Loren Abraham is an architect and adjunct professor specializing in sustainable design. Over his career, he has designed several notable green buildings using strategies like green roofs, daylighting, and displacement ventilation. He has also conducted research on life cycle cost analysis and productivity impacts of sustainable design features. Abraham aims to teach sustainable design principles through his work and role as an educator.
4. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
HERMAN MILLER “GREENHOUSE”
OFFICES & FACTORY William McDonough + Partners
6. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
901 Cherry
GAP Office Building
William McDonough + Partners
• Green Roof
• Raised Floor – Displacement Ventilation
• Daylighting
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis Model
7. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
Adjunct Assistant Professor
8. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Life Cycle
Cost
Analysis
Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
with William McDonough + Partners
Summary of Cost
Benefit Analysis
Initial
Costs
$
Reduced
HVAC
Costs
Net
First
Costs
Annual
Energy
Savings
Annual
Operation
Savings
Simple
Payback
Years
Green Roof 434,550 4,250 430,300 24,000 4,250 11
Underfloor Plenum 532,000 75,000 457,000 19,000 155,400 2.6
Daylighting 414,392 2,035 412,357 19,070 3,430 18
Combined 1,380,942 81,285 1,299,657 62,070 163,080 5.8
9. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Gap
Probable
Productivity
Gains
Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
with William McDonough + Partners
Worst
MostLikely
Best
Productivity $
Absenteeism $
10000
100000
1000000
10000000
100000000
Most Likely Productivity Gains
Benefit to Owner Productivity
% Improved
Absenteeism
% Improved
Cost Benefit
$
Underfloor air distribution
(UFAD)
4 9 1,581,000
Daylighting 4 9 1,581,000
Combined 8 18 3,162,000
10. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
Adjunct Assistant Professor
A.J.L. CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
William McDonough + Partners
Net-Zero Energy building
Living Machine
Full Daylighting
Building as Teaching
laboratory
Indoor and outdoor
relationships
integrated green
infrastructure
11. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
loren abraham 2001-2013
abraham + associates architects
12. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of MinnesotaLoren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
abraham + associates architects
public architecture
Hennepin County
Brookdale Regional Center
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
In association with Buetow & Associates, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota
13. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of MinnesotaLoren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
14. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of MinnesotaLoren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
15. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesotaabraham + associates architects
Celebrating light
16. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesotaabraham + associates architects
Daylighting Strategies Implemented
Figure A: Schematic Section showing the daylighting strategies employed.
Figure C: Small punched openings positioned high
along mainstreet allow direct sunlight into non-
critical task areas and the resulting light and
shadow create movement and interest. The
openings are beveled to optimize light and
minimize uncomfortable contrasts between
window and wall.
Figure D: The condition at the new and existing building interface
presents an opportunity to create clerestrories at the high-low
roof intersection. The clerestory on the left faces north and
brings in soft diffuse light while the clerestory on the right faces
west.
Figure E: Existing clerestories in the
renovated portion of the regional center
were retained and re-glazed with new higher
performance glazing for improved
daylighting performance. They allow daylight
in the areas of the building core that would
otherwise be windowless.
Figure B: Prismatic glass redirects intense
rays of light coming from the West up onto
the plaster scoop.
17. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesotaabraham + associates architects
Daylighting Strategies Implemented
Figure 1: Shafts of daylight
stream into West Rotunda
Interior providing a feeling of
well-being as well as
valuable information.
Figure 2: High clerestories in the library at”Mainstreet” provide
glare free abundant light to the room below without the problems of
direct light. The vertical surfaces bounce and diffuse the light
Figure 3: Sloping the ceiling has the same effect as
maintaining the higher level throughout the space
with the added advantages of greater clearance
above the ceiling for mechanical systems where it is
needed and the ceiling is brighter than it would be if
flat because it reflects incident horizontal light much
better.
Figure 4: A highly efficient reflective film called SOLF
(short for solar optic lens film) made by 3M, optimizes
the effectiveness of these light shelves in the Library
which bounce light up onto the sloped ceiling providing
more even illumination in the space. They also reduce
glare near the windows
Figure 5: By providing a graduated “frit” pattern on the glass
above the light shelf instead of using the solar shade, we
ensure that there will always be illumination for the light shelf
and the frit reduces heat gains similar to the shade system but
with far less cost.
Figure 6: The molded plaster light
“Scoop” in the Courts waiting area
effectively softens and distributes
light not only to this space but the
adjacent rooms as well.
18. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of MinnesotaLoren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
abraham + associates architects
green roof architecture
19. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of MinnesotaLoren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
Minneapolis Central Library
Green Roof
Architects: Pelli and Architectural Alliance
Landscape Architect: Kestrel Design Group
20. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture
School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Green Roof Interpretive Center and
Garden Classroom
21. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture
School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Final Design Scheme
GREEN ROOF PLAN
22. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture
School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Grand Opening 2010
23. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture and planning
Design Team::
Dewey Thorbeck, Design Architect
ESG Architects, Managing Architect
Abraham + Associates Architects, Sustainable Design Architect
Kestrel Design Group, Landscape Architect
24. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture and planning
MASTERPLAN
26. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture and planning
Lower Level
Touch and See
Green
House
Researching Nature
Sunken
Court
Unexcavated
Main Entry Level
Upper Level
Roof Top Plan
Offices
Green Roof Terrace
27. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
abraham + associates architects
religious architecture
River of Life Church
Renovation and Addition
Hastings, Minnesota
28. Loren E Abraham,, RA
abraham + associates
Interior
buildout and
furniture
design build
project
Brightech
Conference Room
and Table
Minneapolis, MN
29. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture and planning
Zero Impact
Sustainable Strategies
Showcase Home
Barott House
Columbus Township, Minnesota
30. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architecture and planning
Zero Impact
Sustainable Strategies
Showcase Home
Barott House
Columbus Township, Minnesota
31. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
abraham + associates architects
abraham + associates architects
residential architecture
32. loren abraham, aia
with dgp architects, Charlottesville, VA
residential architecture
Tall Oaks, Charlottesville, VA
33. Loren Abraham
Initiatives and Service
• Zero+ Campus Design Project 2010-2013
• Minnesota Renewable Energy Society Board 2007-2009
• Sustainable Buildings Industries Council Chair 1991-1993
• Initiated ASTM Green Buildings Committee (E51) 1992
• AIA National COTE scientific advisor ERG 1990-1992
• Greening of the White House Initiative 1992-1996
• Founding member US Green Building Council 1993
• LEED Guidelines Committee 1993-1995
34. School of architecture | Adjunct Slam 2012
College of Design | University of Minnesota
Loren Abraham
Design Research and Product Development
• Product Design - 9 Patents
• Ecological Product Development
– C2C Protocols, MBDC, 1996
– Designtex Fabric, MBDC, 1996
• Software and Publications
– Energy 10 Software, 1996
– DOE Energy Design Tools, 1996
– Sustainable Building Technical
Manual, USGBC, PTI, 1996
– Living Spaces: Ecological
Building and Design, 1999
– Whole Building Design Guide
35. Loren Abraham, AIA, LEED AP
Adjunct Assistant Professor
1991-1999 Other Work
C2C designtex fabric