When the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) sought to expand its South Table Mountain campus, it needed a partner capable of innovation, precision, and sustainability. JE Dunn, in collaboration with SmithGroup (formerly SmithGroupJJR), answered the call, creating the Energy System Integration Facility (ESIF). This LEED Platinum-certified project showcases JE Dunn’s capabilities, blending advanced technology with environmental responsibility.
The ESIF project was a complex design-build endeavor, integrating three buildings under one roof: a 44,000-square-foot office building, a 37,000-square-foot data center, and an 84,000-square-foot high bay research laboratory. In addition to these core components, the facility includes conference areas, visualization rooms, a break room, an atrium lobby, and connectors between the buildings. This multifunctional design not only supports diverse research needs but also fosters collaboration and innovation.
A key feature of the ESIF is the High-Performance Computing and Data Center (HPCDC). This facility expands NREL’s capabilities in modeling and simulating renewable energy technologies. With a petaflop-scale high-performance computer, the HPCDC allows researchers to conduct large-scale simulations that would be too costly, dangerous or impossible to perform through direct experimentation. Remarkably, the HPCDC is not only the fastest computing system dedicated to renewable energy technologies in the world but also one of the most energy-efficient data centers, operating at a power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.05 annual average.
The project’s sustainability aspects were crucial, aligning with NREL’s mission to lead in energy efficiency and renewable energy research. According to JE Dunn’s Rodd Merchant, who was instrumental in the project’s early stages, the ESIF’s design was groundbreaking in its environmental goals. The office building, for example, incorporated advanced sensor technology to minimize energy usage by turning off lights when rooms were unoccupied. These once innovative features are now becoming standard practice, exhibiting NREL’s role in pioneering energy-efficient technologies.
The facility was designed as a living demonstration of what is possible in sustainable building. Throughout the ESIF, electronic boards display real-time energy consumption data, offering transparency and education to visitors. The data center’s viewing areas provide insights into the mechanical workings, illustrating how cutting-edge design can meet stringent energy performance criteria.
The project was not without its challenges. Merchant recalls the unique risks and complexities, particularly with the performance-based design-build contract. The Department of Energy provided a 700-page performance specification, outlining the desired capabilities but leaving the design and implementation details to JE Dunn and its partners. This approach required out-of-the-box thinking and a deep understanding of both construction and energy research.
One of the most challenging aspects was the Research Electrical Distribution Bus (REDB), which needed to operate at a utility scale, north of a megawatt. This system was crucial for integrating various laboratories and supporting their research into renewable energy technologies. It was a one-of-a-kind element that had never been done before, adding to the project’s complexity and risk.
Despite these challenges, JE Dunn delivered a facility that met all the performance requirements and exceeded expectations. The collaboration among architects, engineers, specialty trade contractors, and other stakeholders was critical to the project’s success.
Completing the ESIF marked a significant achievement for JE Dunn and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The facility has become a cornerstone of renewable energy research, providing unparalleled capabilities for advancing energy technologies.