EngineeringJohn Mitchell Center
School of Applied Science,
Engineering, and Technology
TOUR BACKGROUND
The John Mitchell Center, located on the Gorham campus, is the home of the engineering and technology programs at the University of Southern Maine. The facility is comprised of laboratories, classrooms, department offices, common student spaces, department offices, and faculty offices. It also houses the Office of the Dean for the School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology.
Originally built in 1964, in 2004, the facility was expanded to 60,500 sq. ft. by adding an advanced technology wing and refurbishing the existing building. The entire building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. The LEED designation was an important design factor because future technologists and engineers are prepared in the facility, and they should fully understand the importance of energy efficient designs that are environmentally responsible. Throughout the tour, the design decisions that were implemented to save energy and enhance the environment through sustainable living practices will be highlighted.
FIRST FLOOR
The first floor of the building is dedicated to manufacturing technologies that allow us to design and produce silicon chips and wood , metal, plastic and composite products. The following is a description of the laboratories:
Fairchild Semiconductor Electrical Engineering Laboratory Suite
This suite is made up of several laboratories that are dedicated to microelectronics, circuit design, and semiconductor design. Additionally the suite has an open research area where professors and students conduct applied research and prepare senior projects.
Pratt & Whitney Mechanical Engineering Laboratory
This laboratory supports our mechanical engineering degree and is made up of a robotics control cell, materials analysis/characterization cell, thermodynamics/statics cell, and an open research area to conduct experiments.
Central Maine Power Company Power & Automation Laboratory
This laboratory supports technology and engineering through the study of fluid and mechanical power systems. Automation devices are designed and built using programmable logic controllers (PLC's) to manage and control automation cells. Team work and technical problem solving techniques are supported by data collection and analytical methods for systems optimization.
National Semiconductor Learning Factory
This laboratory is made up of three manufacturing cells: one non-automated, one semi-automated, and one fully automated. Students have the opportunity to produce products using cutting edge manufacturing technologies that are comprised of machine tools, robots, conveyer systems, vision systems, and assembly systems controlled by several software packages. SMART (strategic manufacturing for robust technologies) is a USM copyrighted approach to manufacturing control technologies.
Skunk Works
This is a student-centered prototyping laboratory that is designed for working with multiple materials and tools that support student innovations and inventions. It is configured to be very flexible so things that need to be "built" can be made with professional-grade technologies and materials.
IDEXX Laboratories Technology Education Laboratory
This is a state-of-the-art technology education laboratory designed to prepare technology education teachers and serve as a model for Maine's public schools. It includes study modules in biotechnology, construction, manufacturing, information technologies, and energy/power/transportation technologies.
Product Testing and Metrology Laboratory
Designed to be a test and measurement facility, this laboratory is used to provide destructive and non-destructive techniques to evaluate products and materials. Products are tested and evaluated, and the results are used to prepare a follow-up engineering performance report that provides conclusions and makes recommendations for improvement. The facility features a 15,000 lb. capacity crane-rail and lock down test bed. The lab is used extensively by area companies and product inventors to assess their products and materials.
SECOND FLOOR
The transparent day-lit main entry lobby is prominently located on the second floor. This floor houses offices, classrooms, and laboratories related to information technologies and environmental safety and health. Below is a description of the facility:
Lecture Hall
The lecture hall is a multimedia tiered-seating classroom that is used for large classes (46) and multimedia events. It is an excellent example of LEED design with its use of efficient sensor-controlled lighting, second growth (managed forest) cherry wood molding, and paneling made without formaldehyde glues. The wood trim throughout the building comes from sustainable forest practices, meaning that ecologically sensitive old-growth forests are preserved, while 'certified' wood is harvested from forests managed properly for timber production. The paneling goes one step further in that no wood is used at all. The 'Dakota Burl' wall, desk panels, and lectern are made from sunflower seed hulls, which are agricultural fiber waste products.
Wright-Ryan Construction Inc. Conference Room
This meeting room is set up for a group of 18 and features a LEED certified conference table and hutch made of recycled materials and second growth cherry. Similar to the lecture hall, the table top surface is sunflower seed 'Dakota Burl' and the table top structure is made from wheat straw. Both these products are annually renewable resources. To reduce the potential contaminants in the indoor environment for the occupants, products such as the carpeting, wall and ceiling paint, door adhesives, and wood panels were installed containing very low volatile organic compounds (VOC's). The room is used for department meetings and presentations.
Main Lobby
The main entrance is designed as a common space for students, faculty, and visitors. It is a naturally lit energy efficient design that allows for heat gain and storage (ceramic flooring) in the winter and indirect light in the summer. The exposed structural system, decorative steel ceiling, and wall panels highlight the virtually 100% recycled-content steel used in the construction. The recycled content of the new building components totaled 11%. A 42" plasma video screen on the lobby wall is an educational display of the building's energy use. Electrical power consumption, heating and cooling energy use, CO2 levels, and system graphics are displayed and explained on five screens accessible to students and visitors.
Brown Family Classrooms
These are two classrooms divided by a removable partition that allows seating for up to 52 students. It is often used for large meetings that require a seminar-style design so that participants are facing each other. Each of the classrooms is equipped with video projectors and "smart boxes" that facilitate the use of computers in presentations. In addition to numerous wired connections, the entire facility is equipped for wireless computer communication.
Poland Spring(TM) Environmental Safety & Health Laboratory
This laboratory supports programs in the Department of Environmental Science and the Department of Technology. Featured in the laboratory are numerous pieces of equipment focused on analyzing the workplace, including air quality and the use of ergonomically designed work stations. All Environmental Safety and Health majors take classes in this facility and two other laboratories located in Bailey Hall. The air handling system in this room and the entire building has been designed with indoor environmental health in mind. Increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from occupants can cause drowsiness and health problems. The state-of-the-art HVAC system monitors CO2 levels and imports fresh outdoor air when necessary. The system also saves money by not heating excessive fresh air when building occupancy is low.
Electrical Engineering Circuits Laboratory
This laboratory is a basic circuits facility that supports 1st and 2nd year students. It also houses the computer networking hardware that is used to teach technology majors about the connectivity issues surrounding multiple and different computer systems.
Neil and Gunter Computer Aided Design Laboratory
The capabilities of this laboratory range from allowing students to work on sketches to fully developing a design using solid modeling computer-aided design software and hardware. Objects created on the CAD system can quickly be converted to real objects using the available rapid prototyping system.
Digital Arts and Technology Laboratory
This laboratory focuses on multimedia and is divided into three areas: one for the design of graphics, one for the production of graphics, and one for the electronic production of audio and video CD's and DVD's. Majors in art and media studies use this laboratory along with students in the Information and Communications Technology program.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmentally sound practices were considered for location of this building and the development of the site all of which contributed to the LEED certification. The previously existing 40-year old building was preserved, rather than being demolished. This was coupled with an aggressive construction material recycling effort that kept 97% of wastes from being placed in local landfills. The building addition was placed on an existing paved parking lot to avoid an increased storm water impact to a local stream.
Throughout the laboratories and support spaces, low-flow water saving fixtures such as lab sinks, lavatories, and toilets are used to save potable water on a daily basis. The HVAC system uses no ozone-depleting substances such as CFC's, HCFC's, or Halons. To reduce energy consumption and save operating costs, the HVAC system and electrical system have been engineered for a 37% saving compared to a standard system, using features such as motion-sensor lighting control and CO2 air quality monitoring/control. Daily recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, and glass is encouraged by the prolific use of recycling containers throughout the building, and the two easily accessible storage areas on the first floor.
To encourage use of alternative transportation by the staff, the existing parking lot that the building displaced was not replaced, and two of the closest remaining parking spaces are identified as carpool parking only. Also, the building is close to existing bicycle racks.
