Engineering Revealed at UT Dallas
Creating a Transparent Learning Environment
by Robert J. Struble, Director of Brand & Innovation, Vitro Architectural Glass
The 200,000 sq.ft., LEED® Gold-certified Engineering and Computer Science West (ECSW) building façade design at the University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, has it all: striking U-shaped glass enclosures with highly calibrated shading designs, exceptional transparency and comfort, an outdoor courtyard, and full-scale engineering on display.
“Research labs, maker spaces, project rooms, and learning environments are visually connected to one another, creating a culture of openness and interdisciplinary engagement. Externally, the highly transparent façade offers a window into the academic experience, allowing students, faculty, and visitors to see engineering in action,” said Randall Daniel, Senior Principal and Science and Technology Studio Design Leader for the SmithGroup in Dallas.
To strike the optimal balance of transparency and thermal performance, the architects chose triple silver-coated Solarban® 70 glass from Vitro Architectural Glass. With a visible light transmittance of 64% and a low solar heat gain coefficient of 0.27 blocking a high percentage of unwanted heat gain, the high-performance glazing optimizes views inside and out, enhances occupant comfort, and reduces cooling loads.
“Solarban glass provided the sweet spot the project demanded: a combination of high daylight transmission, excellent solar control, and color-neutral clarity,” stated Daniel. The complex façade design features a variety of glazing sizes, shading devices, and strategically placed programming on the interior.
Starting with the east elevation, large overhangs and a calibrated brise-soleil enable large expanses of glazing and optimized transparency by filtering the morning sunlight. The natural light animates the building’s primary commons, instructional laboratories, student collaboration spaces, and exterior terrace.
The glazing on the west façade is less open to minimize the afternoon solar heat gain. Behind the limestone cladding is the research laboratory casework and equipment. Strips of glazing are electrochromic and automatically adjust the tint based on the sun’s intensity throughout the day. For the north and façade elevations, the architects designed fully glazed faculty offices that bring light deep into the interior. “Projecting shade portals of varying depths dance across the two façades, providing solar protection while maximizing daylight and preserving outward views,” described Daniel.
The design team used a variety of 3D modeling tools, including Trimble® SketchUp and Revit, to analyze glazing locations and shading elements. “Iterative studies evaluated solar insolation, shading performance, and daylight levels to optimize glazing extents and shading depths,” added Daniels. The high-performance glazing and shading enable the building itself to act as a recruiting strategy thanks to its high level of transparency.
“As visitors move through the building, they have direct visual access to advanced coursework, student projects, cutting-edge research, and collaborative learning environments. Rather than merely describing the opportunities available at UT Dallas, the building allows them to experience them firsthand,” said Daniel.
Another unique aspect of the ECSW building is that the vast majority of the facility’s engineering systems are fully revealed, turning the building into a teaching tool. “Full glazing at the building’s main exhaust shafts and elevators celebrate the building’s working systems and place engineering on display,” Daniel explained.
All the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems are color-coded to reveal ductwork, piping, and electrical systems. In addition, meters display performance data in full view of building occupants. Housed within the building’s four floors are research and teaching labs and student workspaces in building technologies, electrothermal management systems, wind/solar energy systems and components, powered prosthetic devices for rehabilitation and surgical robotics, drone technologies, advanced manufacturing, Bio/nanomanufacturing, and bio/nano mechanics.
Extending the classroom space to the exterior, the U-shaped structure opens into a shaded courtyard. The courtyard acts as a breezeway that draws air into and up through calibrated trellis. The effect is a quasi-micro-climate, creating a comfortable outdoor space used for instruction and events. The ECSW building stands as a proud example of how careful planning, thorough engineering, and the right materials can make a learning environment into something that perfectly suits it’s students.
