Business Instructional Facility University of Illinois

Project of the Year: Higher Education/Research

The Business Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign signifies a new philosophy for building projects on the campus in Central Illinois.

The $62-million project is the will be the school’s first green building and is pursuing LEED Gold designation.

Green amid the Orange and Blue

The 160,000-sq-ft brick-and-limestone building has features that will reduce energy consumption by 75% when compared with old buildings on campus and by 42% vs. a new facility designed to the university’s existing standards. Indeed, the university wanted the BIF to be a landmark.

The sustainable elements including the building envelope and mechanical systems that are optimized to reduce energy use and improve occupant comfort. Low maintenance and low operating costs were considered for all designs.

A 30-ft overhang on the south facade keeps the commons shaded and minimizes heat gain during the summer months and optimizes solar gain in the winter months when the sun is at a low angle.

Other sustainable features include occupancy sensors and carbon-dioxide sensors for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning control. Also, sensors for motion and infrared light will control listing systems. Photovoltaic solar cells generate about 5% to 7% of the building’s electrical needs.

Displacement ventilation units serve the classrooms, auditorium and commons area to provide increasing ventilation effectiveness and reduced energy usage.

Although displacement ventilation has been used in Europe for years, it is relatively new in the United States. Systems were researched thoroughly to educate the owner.

Previously, the building site was a parking lot. The new facility helps reduce the heat-island effect by use of a partial green roof and landscaping to replace the parking lot.

Facilities include classrooms, career development and counseling centers, student program offices, recruitment suite, 300-seat auditorium and space for students to meet and study.

The design and layout are intended to foster the teamwork and hands-on learning popular in business education.

Public spaces are on the first floor, and the upper floors are to be used by graduate and undergraduate students. The U-shaped building surrounds a commons area and courtyard.

Jury Comments: “It’s a pretty interesting green building and the first sustainable building on the U. of I. campus. We like the welcoming interior. It parallels a building used for architectural education nearby in design in some ways.”

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