Project Name: 

CMU ANSYS Hall

Project Square Footage (ft²): 

36,000 SF

Year Built:

2017-2019

Green Building Certifications: 

LEED Gold Certification

Project Team: 

Carnegie Mellon University (Owner), Mosites Construction Company (CM), Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (Architect)

 

Please provide a brief description of the project.

As it incorporates advanced technology into a historic campus, the 36,000 SF mixed-use academic facility provides full-size manufacturing capabilities and the ability to showcase large-scale prototypes. The building is a unique connecting point and a hub for the College of Engineering, providing a high-performing, adaptable, timeless space where students will transform their ideas from digital concepts to physical prototypes in the same facility.

 

How did the building's team work together to address sustainability and building performance?

An integrated design process engaged BCJ, Mosites, the University, Buro Happold, the MEP consulting engineer, and envelope and sustainability consultants with sustainability goals established early. Iterative energy modeling, daylight modeling, and computational analysis of exterior sun shading strategies maintained clear views while achieving performance goals and thermal comfort. The constrained site required a just-in-time delivery method throughout
construction which, in turn, facilitated material efficiency and reduced waste. Over 95% of the construction and demolition waste was diverted and recycled.

What were major challenges in the project related to building performance and how did the project team work to overcome them?

The entire project team came together early in the preconstruction process to lay out the challenges they saw with the project and continually met to tackle any unforeseen challenges that arose.

 

What are the project's key sustainability features?

The ANSYS Hall stormwater management practices include infiltration and detention, achieved with various elements throughout the site, including the green roof, rain garden, and underground detention system. These practices align with the City-wide initiative to significantly reduce the amount of stormwater entering our sewer system, improving our rivers’ overall health. The green roof reduces runoff, improves water quality, and conserves energy while providing a natural habitat for pollinators and other small wildlife. The building also utilizes a dual mechanical system, servicing the fabrication and office spaces separately, significantly reducing the energy needed to condition the building mechanically. In April 2021, ANSYS Hall was certified LEED Golf by the USGBC.

 

What are your main take-aways or lessons learned from this project? Have these lessons informed other projects?

The project required a fast-track delivery, and attention to detail was not lost on Mosites and the project’s specialty contractors. Our team built numerous mockups to verify the constructability and cost of the details. To this day, Mosites stresses the importance of creating mock-ups for MEP coordination, study light levels, the potential for prefabrication, and access for maintenance.

 

What was the intended or actual impact of the project on its users or the surrounding community?

A partnership with the engineering software company ANSYS, Inc., ANSYS Hall serves as an accessible connection for four adjacent buildings and sparks innovation, with a high bay maker space, laboratories, collaboration areas, classrooms, and offices opening onto an outdoor maker court. The building includes a literal bridge to the historic Cut, connecting multiple academic departments, ANSYS, Inc. and Carnegie Mellon University employees, and extracurricular groups. The addition of ANSYS Hall as the final link to the University’s “Maker Ecosystem” unlocks access points and helps create a gateway to the campus.
ANSYS Hall brings together undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines in an adaptable, hands-on environment that fosters innovation. The highly versatile building encourages flexibility and accommodates growth and change. ANSYS Hall creates a space for students to collaborate openly and freely while providing ANSYS, Inc. with a secure office suite.