Business Instructional Facility
Encyclopedia
The Business Instructional Facility (BIF) is a $60 million, 160,000 SF state-of-the-art business facility designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
located on the Champaign
campus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(UIUC). The facility is home to numerous classrooms, career development and academic counseling centers, student program offices, a recruitment suite, a 300 seat auditorium, and a spacious study area for students.
Rafael Pelli, a partner of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
who was the project principal for the Business Instructional Facility, explained in an interview on October 17, 2008 (shortly after completion) that the purpose of this building is to serve as "a sense of place, a community, a center to the College of Business".
The building, 'U'-shaped, consists of a large commons area, furnished mainly with wood, with a prominent glass curtain wall on the south side of BIF facing the courtyard formed by the 'U' shape.
The building is the first business facility at a public university in the world to achieve a platinum certification through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED), a U.S. Green Building Council rating system used to measure the sustainability in construction, and is the first building on the UIUC campus to achieve a LEED certification.
The noteworthy 'green' elements of the Business Instructional Facility include solar panels, a green roof
, and a energy efficient cooling and heating system.
The combined 'green' initiatives are expected to produce an annual savings of $300,000 per year in comparison with traditional classroom buildings on the UIUC
campus.
Avijit Ghosh, College of Business Dean at the time, offered appreciation for supporters of the Business Instructional Facility plans: "My thanks to the many alumni, corporate partners, faculty, staff and friends of the College whose generous financial support has made this wonderful project possible."
On April 28, 2006, the UIUC College of Business
held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Business Instructional Facility construction site in Champaign, Illinois
.
Construction of the Business Instructional Facility was completed in the summer of 2008 and the building was open for classes in August 2008.
According to worldarchitecturenews.com, the geometry of the Business Instructional Facility is defined by "three perimeter bar buildings" composed of native brick and natural stone forming a 'U'-shape. The opening of the 'U' faces south which encompasses the landscaped courtyard. The commons, located at the base of the 'U', is adorned with wood finishes and is flooded with natural light provided by the glass curtain wall
facing the courtyard. The commons "provides grandness and warmth" to the Business Instructional Facility.
Furthermore, Craig Copeland, a senior associate of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, characterized the daylight provided by the glass curtain wall
as "a part of the architectural expression" of the Business Instructional Facility."
Rafael Pelli described the commons as "the central space, not only physically central, but it's central to the functioning and the use of the space."
César Pelli
, a renowned Argentinian architect and partner of Pelli Clark Pelli Architects, described the Business Instructional Facility as "a family of its own character, its own quality."
Wolff Landscape Architects, Inc. described the garden courtyard as an entity defined on three sides by the building and thus creates a "continuous indoor/outdoor space" between the commons and the courtyard. The courtyard is arranged with linear pieces of pavement which elongates the building geometry. A raised trough serves as the base of the linear fountain that runs from one end of the courtyard to the other. A linear native prairie plant section and sedge meadow area, split by a path for surface drainage, provides stormwater
retention and is adjacent to the fountain. The landscaping contributed to the LEED platinum rating through use of "native plants, on-site stormwater
retention, green roofs
, and no potable water use." In 2009, the landscape architecture received recognition through the Illinois Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for their design of the garden courtyard at the Business Instructional Facility.
The auditorium provides a space for guest lectures, seminars, and conferences.
The Margolis Market Information Lab (MIL), located in the northwest corner of the first floor, exposes students to electronic sources of financial and investment data and analytical software through multi-screen stations similar to those used in financial markets.
Also, the Trading Lab, located adjacent to MIL, provides "time-delayed" financial data from major media sources creating a business-like atmosphere.
The Business Career Services, located in the northeast corner, assists students in their job search with resume critiques, mock interviews, and job search strategy.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Accountancy Student Center offers students studying accounting advising for courses, independent study, jobs, and scholarships and financial aid.
Some of the other main features of the main floor include student lounges, the Business Office of Undergraduate Affairs, and a corporate recruitment center.
Breakout rooms, mainly located on the second and third floors, provide a convenient space for group collaboration.
The Illinois MBA Program, located on the third floor, provides student classrooms, student services, and lounges. Also, the fourth floor, located on the east side of BIF, has many meeting spaces and faculty offices.
on the Business Instructional Facility is composed of two different sections, a 1200 square feet (111.5 m²) section located on the fourth floor roof and a smaller area over the auditorium. The green roof
contains low maintenance plants growing in a layer of substrate that captures water allowing much less stormwater
runoff
. Rob Kanter adds that green roofs
"discharge cleaner water, thanks to the filtering effect of the substrate and the ... runoff doesn't pick up additional pollutants from the roof itself." Furthermore, the green roof
provides better heat reflection in warm weather and insulation in cooler weather. Also, the Department of Civil Engineering at UIUC has placed monitoring equipment on both sections to study the water quality
runoff
and insulating capacity in comparison to conventional roofs.
rating system criteria is divided into 5 categories: sustainable site, energy and atmosphere, water efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Rafael Pelli admitted that the "biggest challenge is designing a good green buulding is making the early commitment early on in the process and then incorporating suggestions from various members of the design team."
and sedimentation
control plan was developed to limit pollution caused by stormwater
runoff
. Also, a stormwater
management plan was instilled to prevent pollution and disruption of natural water flows.
The site of the Business Instructional Facility, formerly a parking lot, was reused and improved limiting the development footprint of the project. Also, the Business Instructional Facility is located near public transportation, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
, mitigating land development due to automobiles.
Automatic light dimmers were installed to detect natural light and adjust synthetic light sources accordingly to reduce energy consumption.
Motion sensors power light fixtures off when rooms are empty to also limit energy use.
Triple pane windows that comprise the glass curtain wall
provide "phenomenal thermal and acoustical insulation" in addition to high performance insulation. The zinc
roof reflects solar radiation
away from the building reducing cooling costs. Zero employment of CFC
-based refrigerants in heating, air conditioning, ventilating, and refrigeration systems reduces ozone depletion. The Business Instructional Facility receives approximately 8% of its electricity
demand from 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) of solar panels on the auditorium roof.
Also, potable water consumption was eliminated through low maintenance and drought resistant landscaping.
This system provides "filtered, humidity controlled, low velocity air" to the entire building.
Also, monitoring equipment ensures that the "ventilation systems maintain minimum design requirements" , especially carbon dioxide
levels, "help promote occupant comfort and well-being".
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
located on the Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
campus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
(UIUC). The facility is home to numerous classrooms, career development and academic counseling centers, student program offices, a recruitment suite, a 300 seat auditorium, and a spacious study area for students.
Rafael Pelli, a partner of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
who was the project principal for the Business Instructional Facility, explained in an interview on October 17, 2008 (shortly after completion) that the purpose of this building is to serve as "a sense of place, a community, a center to the College of Business".
The building, 'U'-shaped, consists of a large commons area, furnished mainly with wood, with a prominent glass curtain wall on the south side of BIF facing the courtyard formed by the 'U' shape.
The building is the first business facility at a public university in the world to achieve a platinum certification through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED), a U.S. Green Building Council rating system used to measure the sustainability in construction, and is the first building on the UIUC campus to achieve a LEED certification.
The noteworthy 'green' elements of the Business Instructional Facility include solar panels, a green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
, and a energy efficient cooling and heating system.
The combined 'green' initiatives are expected to produce an annual savings of $300,000 per year in comparison with traditional classroom buildings on the UIUC
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
campus.
History
On July 14, 2005 the University of Illinois Board of Trustees approved the Business Instructional Facility plans allowing the College of Business to begin requesting bids for site preparation and construction.Avijit Ghosh, College of Business Dean at the time, offered appreciation for supporters of the Business Instructional Facility plans: "My thanks to the many alumni, corporate partners, faculty, staff and friends of the College whose generous financial support has made this wonderful project possible."
On April 28, 2006, the UIUC College of Business
UIUC College of Business
The College of Business is the business school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It offers programs in accountancy, business administration, and finance....
held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Business Instructional Facility construction site in Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
.
Construction of the Business Instructional Facility was completed in the summer of 2008 and the building was open for classes in August 2008.
Description
The Business Instructional Facility architecture can be described as "adding a sympathetic and fresh flavor to the campus's rich fabric of Georgian architecture while including sustainable features."According to worldarchitecturenews.com, the geometry of the Business Instructional Facility is defined by "three perimeter bar buildings" composed of native brick and natural stone forming a 'U'-shape. The opening of the 'U' faces south which encompasses the landscaped courtyard. The commons, located at the base of the 'U', is adorned with wood finishes and is flooded with natural light provided by the glass curtain wall
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
facing the courtyard. The commons "provides grandness and warmth" to the Business Instructional Facility.
Furthermore, Craig Copeland, a senior associate of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, characterized the daylight provided by the glass curtain wall
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
as "a part of the architectural expression" of the Business Instructional Facility."
Rafael Pelli described the commons as "the central space, not only physically central, but it's central to the functioning and the use of the space."
César Pelli
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
, a renowned Argentinian architect and partner of Pelli Clark Pelli Architects, described the Business Instructional Facility as "a family of its own character, its own quality."
Wolff Landscape Architects, Inc. described the garden courtyard as an entity defined on three sides by the building and thus creates a "continuous indoor/outdoor space" between the commons and the courtyard. The courtyard is arranged with linear pieces of pavement which elongates the building geometry. A raised trough serves as the base of the linear fountain that runs from one end of the courtyard to the other. A linear native prairie plant section and sedge meadow area, split by a path for surface drainage, provides stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
retention and is adjacent to the fountain. The landscaping contributed to the LEED platinum rating through use of "native plants, on-site stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
retention, green roofs
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
, and no potable water use." In 2009, the landscape architecture received recognition through the Illinois Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award for their design of the garden courtyard at the Business Instructional Facility.
First Floor
The commons area is the central space for students to study and socialize with each other. Further, this space serves host to student events and corporate receptions.The auditorium provides a space for guest lectures, seminars, and conferences.
The Margolis Market Information Lab (MIL), located in the northwest corner of the first floor, exposes students to electronic sources of financial and investment data and analytical software through multi-screen stations similar to those used in financial markets.
Also, the Trading Lab, located adjacent to MIL, provides "time-delayed" financial data from major media sources creating a business-like atmosphere.
The Business Career Services, located in the northeast corner, assists students in their job search with resume critiques, mock interviews, and job search strategy.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Accountancy Student Center offers students studying accounting advising for courses, independent study, jobs, and scholarships and financial aid.
Some of the other main features of the main floor include student lounges, the Business Office of Undergraduate Affairs, and a corporate recruitment center.
Upper Floors
The second and third floors possess tiered classrooms that are suitable for presentations while others are flat to provide an ideal space for interaction between students and teachers. All of the rooms are capable of PowerPoint presentations and video-conferences.Breakout rooms, mainly located on the second and third floors, provide a convenient space for group collaboration.
The Illinois MBA Program, located on the third floor, provides student classrooms, student services, and lounges. Also, the fourth floor, located on the east side of BIF, has many meeting spaces and faculty offices.
Green Roof
According to Rob Kanter, the green roofGreen roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
on the Business Instructional Facility is composed of two different sections, a 1200 square feet (111.5 m²) section located on the fourth floor roof and a smaller area over the auditorium. The green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
contains low maintenance plants growing in a layer of substrate that captures water allowing much less stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
. Rob Kanter adds that green roofs
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
"discharge cleaner water, thanks to the filtering effect of the substrate and the ... runoff doesn't pick up additional pollutants from the roof itself." Furthermore, the green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
provides better heat reflection in warm weather and insulation in cooler weather. Also, the Department of Civil Engineering at UIUC has placed monitoring equipment on both sections to study the water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
and insulating capacity in comparison to conventional roofs.
Sustainable Design Elements
The LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
rating system criteria is divided into 5 categories: sustainable site, energy and atmosphere, water efficiency, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
Rafael Pelli admitted that the "biggest challenge is designing a good green buulding is making the early commitment early on in the process and then incorporating suggestions from various members of the design team."
Sustainable Site
According to LEED design standards and "Green Building Facts", an erosionErosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
and sedimentation
Sedimentation
Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in suspension to settle out of the fluid in which they are entrained, and come to rest against a barrier. This is due to their motion through the fluid in response to the forces acting on them: these forces can be due to gravity, centrifugal acceleration...
control plan was developed to limit pollution caused by stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
. Also, a stormwater
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
management plan was instilled to prevent pollution and disruption of natural water flows.
The site of the Business Instructional Facility, formerly a parking lot, was reused and improved limiting the development footprint of the project. Also, the Business Instructional Facility is located near public transportation, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District is a mass transit system that is part of the Champaign-Urbana Metropolitan Area in which property taxes are levied to support a local transit system operating buses and the Illinois Terminal intermodal facility in downtown Champaign...
, mitigating land development due to automobiles.
Energy and Atmosphere
According to LEED design standards and "Green Building Facts", the fundamental commissioning of building's energy systems verified that these items were installed and calibrated as established by the project.Automatic light dimmers were installed to detect natural light and adjust synthetic light sources accordingly to reduce energy consumption.
Motion sensors power light fixtures off when rooms are empty to also limit energy use.
Triple pane windows that comprise the glass curtain wall
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
provide "phenomenal thermal and acoustical insulation" in addition to high performance insulation. The zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
roof reflects solar radiation
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
away from the building reducing cooling costs. Zero employment of CFC
Chlorofluorocarbon
A chlorofluorocarbon is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane. A common subclass are the hydrochlorofluorocarbons , which contain hydrogen, as well. They are also commonly known by the DuPont trade name Freon...
-based refrigerants in heating, air conditioning, ventilating, and refrigeration systems reduces ozone depletion. The Business Instructional Facility receives approximately 8% of its electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
demand from 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) of solar panels on the auditorium roof.
Water Efficiency
Water use reduction was accomplished with low volume shower heads, toilets, and facets.Also, potable water consumption was eliminated through low maintenance and drought resistant landscaping.
Materials and resources
A construction waste management plan was implemented in order to reduce landfill waste from job site.Indoor environmental quality
A displacement air system has been installed to efficiently transport warm and cool air throughout the building.This system provides "filtered, humidity controlled, low velocity air" to the entire building.
Also, monitoring equipment ensures that the "ventilation systems maintain minimum design requirements" , especially carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
levels, "help promote occupant comfort and well-being".