Florida State University

The resultant solution relieved bottlenecks with the campus roadways and pedestrian corridors, minimized energy lost from steam and condensate distribution based on studies AEI conducted at similar campuses around the US, integrating with the campus master plan concept to migrate toward decentralized heating. FSU approved the boiler concept during the final month of the design phase, and AEI swiftly developed a plan to incorporate boilers into the building’s mechanical penthouse in time to adhere to the original design schedule.

Based on experience before AEI’s involvement with the FSU campus, active chilled beams were approached with hesitancy from the owner. AEI worked closely with the architect to ensure that chilled beams were integrated within the architecture after designing robust control strategies and overseeing mitigation of risks during installation and startup. After nearly a year of occupancy, the active chilled beams are performing as intended, saving energy while providing high thermal comfort.

The building houses students and faculty in environmental science, geology, meteorology, and oceanography disciplines and includes 23 research labs and eight teaching labs, a broadcast studio for meteorology students, a 280-seat auditorium, and a 100-seat active learning classroom.

Several specialized features are prominently displayed in and around the building, such as a state-of-the-art seismometer capable of detecting earthquakes worldwide, a solar flower which harvests enough solar energy to power two houses, and “Science on a Sphere” from NOAA which allows students, faculty, and visitors to visualize global data including atmospheric storms, earthquakes, climate change, and seawater temperatures.

Faculty from across these integrated departments conduct research around the world, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the North Pole, Brazil, the South Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico. Many of these researchers played a vital role in studying how the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected the rich ecological system of the Gulf. Their deep knowledge and experience in scientific research set the stage for the FSU EOAS facility to host a collaborative environment where they teach, conduct research, and promote public service in environmental sciences. This facility fosters new teaching and research methods in the study of geology, oceanography, and meteorology, and serves as an educational model for other STEM-related projects at FSU.

Sited at the southwest corner of West Tennessee Street and North Woodward Avenue, FSU EOAS is established as a prominent component of the campus’ north gateway, shared by the Oglesby Student Union.