Herman Miller Greenhouse

Team & Process

Predesign

Design was guided by three critical areas of concern: occupant comfort, health, and communication; integration of the exterior landscape; and maximum use of daylighting.

Design

The employees who were to occupy the building were involved in its design from the beginning, as were members of the community in which the building is located. A three-day design charrette, involving various members of the design team, established a spirit of communication, cooperation, and continuity.

Construction

A construction waste management plan was established and adhered to, with the assistance of weekly progress meetings. In addition, site protection during construction was taken seriously. Various erosion-control measures and a site restoration plan were implemented prior to, during, and following construction.

Operations/Maintenance

All facility supervisors were educated about the form and function of the new building through tours and informational sessions. An open house provided this opportunity for all other workers.

Commissioning

The timing of the move from an existing structure to the new building allowed a comparison of "before and after" benefits in productivity and health, not only to the business, but also to the employees and the surrounding community.

Surveys were given to building occupants to provide feedback for a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy. After being in the space for nine months, occupants scored highly the windows and daylighting, and the healthiness and attractiveness of the environment. Temperature and noise received lower marks and were subsequently calibrated for better functioning.

Post-Occupancy

Miller SQA has noted increases in both worker productivity and work quality since shifting to the new facility.

Useful Information Resources and Software

• AAMASKY1, developed by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
• SUPERLITE 2.0, developed by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
• DAYLIT, developed by the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning
• SOLAR 5.2, developed by the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Planning

Primary Design Team Members

The design team also included:

• Architect
• Daylighting/Materials Analysis

previous topic: Overview

next topic: Finance

Our thanks to the ENERGY STAR program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and to the U.S. Department of Energy, and to BuildingGreen, Inc. for hosting the submission and judging forms.

For more information about the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects, contact AIA/COTE. For help on how to use this Web site, contact .