Western Washington University Kaiser Bursary Hall
Bellingham, Washington.
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY and Merit Award, Higher Education/Research
Presented by MA Mortenson Co.
owner Western Washington University
Leading design company Perkins and Will
General Contractor MA Mortenson Co.
Road engineer KPFF Consulting Engineers
Structural Engineer Coughlin Porter Lundeen
MEP engineer Affiliated Engineers Inc.; McKinstry
Mechanical Engineer Hargis Engineers Inc.
Washington State’s first zero-energy, zero-carbon academic building on a college campus is a $54.8 million, four-story, solid wood facility for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
When initial estimates revealed costs in excess of $69 million, the project team worked through extensive value engineering to help identify more than $17.25 million in savings without reducing educational space or compromising zero carbon and zero energy certification goals.
A critical change was to remove the basement from the schematic design and move the electrical room to the first floor, which saved $2 million and reduced embodied carbon by 226 tons through decreased concrete use.
The massive timber structure dramatically reduced the carbon incorporated compared to traditional steel and concrete construction. All wood was responsibly sourced within a 600-mile radius, with Shou Sugi Ban outer coating providing durability through traditional Japanese charring techniques. The prefabricated glulam beams, columns and cross-laminated timber (CLT) decks were fabricated off-site for efficient and seamless assembly at the project location.
Photo by Kevin Scott
Energy performance exceeded expectations thanks to mechanical variable coolant flow systems, which achieved an 80% reduction in lab energy use compared to typical installations and 25% savings beyond LEED Gold standards.
The building runs entirely on renewable energy, with photovoltaic panels covering 75% of the available roof area and the remaining energy purchased through green energy programs.
During construction, electrical equipment and generators replaced gas-powered alternatives, and strict no-idle policies reduced emissions. Sourcing local material minimized transport impacts.
Close collaboration with business partners ensured the team sourced local and national materials, minimizing transport emissions and supporting regional economies.
