DownloadsPhilip Merrill Chesapeake Bay SIP Project Profile
Cheasapeake Bay - (Annapolis, MD)
The Philip Merrill Center was the first building in the world to receive the USGBC LEED Platinum rating. The building was designed to use 50% less energy than a typical office of the same size. Throughout the project the design team placed particular emphasis on the building envelope.
When it came time for the designers to decide on what materials to use in construction of the outer walls and roof they choose Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) core. They found that the SIPs provided the insulation ratings and structural support that fit exactly with the specifications they were shooting for.
After construction was completed, students from MIT were invited to run tests on how much energy the building consumed. Their findings showed that the Philip Merrill Center used 53% less energy to operate when compared to other buildings of the same size.
