University of South Carolina Living/Learning Center

AIA TAP Building Information Modeling Competition

Project Summary

Project Type: Living/Learning Center (residence complex with academic teaching space)

Location: Columbia, SC

Client: University of South Carolina

Date of Completion: August 2004

Size: 180,000 sf

Lead Design Office: Little Diversified Architectural Consulting

Lead Construction Firm: n/a

Design Phase Collaborators: The Boudreaux Group

Construction Phase Collaborators: n/a

Project Team: Ken Gallaugher, Principal in Charge Jim Gleeson, LEED® Accredited Professional Chad Lukenbaugh, Digital Imaging

Submitter’s Contact Information: Katie Fisher, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting 5815 Westpark Dr. Charlotte, NC 28217 (p) 704.561.3480 (f) 704.561.8700 kfisher@littleonline.com

University of South Carolina Living/Learning Center

AIA TAP Building Information Modeling Competition

Project Description

State universities are often faced with budgetary

and time limitations that dictate the types of

buildings they can construct. The University

of South Carolina selected Little Diversified

Architectural Consulting (Little) and The Boudreaux

Group to help them design a LEED® certified,

sustainable 500 student Living/Learning Center

within the same schedule and time frame as a

non-sustainable project.

Using a combination of Revit 3D software and

traditional architectural software known as

AutoCad and Accurender, designers selected

the best site and orientation to maximize solar

access for balanced natural lighting and energy

conservation. The complex, which is partially

underground, offers housing, assembly space, classrooms

and offices. A turf roof helps absorb rainwater and becomes

an integral part of the existing campus landscape.

Revit was used for interior daylighting design and to

capitalize on exterior bouncelight between buildings, and

was a fundamental support component in the pursuit of a

gold LEED® rating for the facility. The building will use 33%

less energy, 20% less water and has minimal storm water

run off. Reductions in energy use will save the university

hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next ten years.

University of South Carolina Living/Learning Center

AIA TAP Building Information Modeling Competition

Project Description

As a result of this project, the university has been

able to develop a campus wide mandate for LEED®

certified sustainable design. In addition, partially

due to the inclusion of fuel cell technology in the

project, the university was granted the designation of

Natural Center for Fuel Cell Research by the Federal

Government.

The Living/Learning Center has proven to be an

effective means by which to educate others about

sustainable buildings. The process has helped

the university, students, faculty and staff who

participated in the project understand that, through

a holistic, consumer based process, previously

impossible results can be achieved.

This technology has met the performance

requirements of the University of South Carolina

and achieved the goal of full compliance with high

performance building ratings. BIM made possible

the design of upscale student accommodations with

minimal impact on the environment.