New ASHRAE Headquarters' Sustainable Retrofit To Be Net-Zero Energy

ASHRAE announced its move to a new headquarters in metro Atlanta that will become a net-zero energy facility once its photovoltaic system is complete.
(Photo courtesy ASHRAE)

ASHRAE’s move into a 66,700-sq-ft retrofit of a 1978 building in Peachtree Corners, near Atlanta, is complete though design of its photovoltaic power system, which would allow the building to generate as much energy as it uses in a year, is currently in progress. The PV installation is expected to go on line in March.

The new headquarters for the green building standards-writing group is designed to be a living laboratory for sustainable retrofits.

In addition to the usual features of a green building, it incorporates several digitally connected solutions. These include remote monitoring and analysis of building performance—with online dashboarding—and advanced building automation system integration with other systems, such as ASHRAE’s meeting reservations systems.

Other features include a digital twin of the building, mechanical systems visible through open ceilings and advanced conferencing systems designed to serve as a digital teaching resource.

ASHRAE describes itself as a professional group advancing the “arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields.” Contributions from members and stakeholders are underwriting the $10.2-million retrofit.

Nadine M. Post, ENR's former editor-at-large for buildings, is an award-winning journalist with 45 years of experience covering trends, issues, innovations, controversies and challenging projects. Post has written about many industry giants, including 10 ENR Award of Excellence winners. And she has covered disasters, failures and attacks, including the 1993 bombing and the 2001 destruction of the World Trade Center. Project stories include the redevelopment of the World Trade Center; the 828-meter-tall Burj Khalifa; Los Angeles’ Disney Concert Hall; and Seattle's Bullitt Center and Rainier Square Tower. In 1985, Post wrote McGraw-Hill's book Restoring the Statue of Liberty (1986) for the restoration’s architects—Richard S. Hayden and Thierry W. Despont.

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