Laura Angst Hall
Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon

Originally constructed in 1956, Laura Angst Hall needed an upgrade and expansion to serve the growing science and healthcare programs at Skagit Valley College. The 65,000 SF revitalized structure, an expansive facility housing the Science and Allied Health programs, is the first higher education facility in Washington State to receive LEED Platinum certification. Through a holistic focus on sustainability and implementation of thoughtful design decisions Wood Harbinger’s engineering design contributed greatly to providing a sustainable and interactive learning environment for Skagit Valley’s students and community, and the project was completed $300,000 under budget.

Balancing energy-intensive mechanical systems with a highly sustainable design mandate was a challenge Wood Harbinger addressed head on with energy modeling and Energy Life Cycle Cost Analysis (ELCCA) for each system. This comprehensive consideration allowed Wood Harbinger to select equipment and design options that would continue to provide payback to the Owner in the form of energy savings. We implemented a Direct Digital Control system that monitors and regulates the mechanical systems to ensure their optimized performance. Our mechanical design also includes HVAC, hydronic heating, chilled water, fire protection, and specialty systems to accommodate the varied science and healthcare settings include a deionized water system, laboratory vacuum system, laboratory airflow control system, and steam system plumbing. The mechanical design, alone, is projected to accumulate 87% of Laura Angst Hall’s total energy savings.

Additional sustainable features include self-adjusting lighting and photovoltaic panels that supply 8.5% of the building’s electricity, plumbing fixtures that use 40% less water, and a heat recovery system collects energy released from the lab hoods. A rain garden and energy conservation features will serve as educational tools for the school’s environmental conservation program.

Compliance with the zoning regulations required complex coordination to strategically organize the mechanical units. Wood Harbinger worked closely with the contractor to ensure that the precise design was implemented as planned to successfully adhere to the regulations.

With a final cost lower than the estimated budget, the design team produced a coveted, sustainable facility that satisfied the needs of all stakeholders. This project not only met, but surpassed, the expectations of the Owner.

“Through collaborative team design charrettes, energy modeling, and thorough attention to sustainability, Wood Harbinger […] exceeded our initial project goals and created a LEED Platinum Certified science and allied health building. The new facility is easy to maintain and operate, and we are confident that our students and staff members will benefit from this progressive, environmentally responsible learning environment for the next 30 years.” – Gary Tollefson,  President of Skagit Valley College.