Bowdoin College Schiller Coastal Studies Center Live & Learn Center

overview

A new scientific village on scenic Orr’s Island supports Bowdoin College’s marine science program while incorporating Passive House design strategies in accordance with the college’s climate action plan. The Schiller Coastal Studies Center (SCSC) comprises a dry lab, the Living & Learning Center (LLC) and four residential buildings. Spanning 4,200 square feet, the lab provides teaching and research spaces, while the 6,000-square-foot LLC offers classrooms, dining and conference space and water views from a wrap-around porch. Four cabins range from 900 to 1,800 square feet.

We provided Passive House consulting to Bowdoin College and Centerbrook for the project. The LLC is PHIUS+ 2018 Final Certified, and the other buildings are designed with the same principles in mind.

highlights

• Using significantly more insulation—under the slab, in exterior walls and the roof—than required by building code reduces heating and cooling loads.
• Vapor and air barriers within the building envelope are fully continuous to ensure moisture management and airtight construction.
• Thermal bridging, which allows for heat transfer between the interior and exterior envelope, is minimized through careful detailing.
• High-performance windows feature three layers of glass. We used two different window types with varying solar heat gain coefficients and optimized placement.
• Mechanically provided outdoor air refreshes the airtight interiors, while energy recovery systems transfer energy from the exhaust air to the incoming air stream.