The building communicates its energy usage patterns in real time through several occupant feedback systems. The Energy Wheel, a large sundial-like sculpture made purely out of LED lights and reflective metal fins, is the centerpiece of the building’s feedback system. It is installed on the building’s atrium wall and is visible from all office floors. The Energy Wheel is driven by real-time data from the building’s control systems. It translates this data into giant, 40-foot rays of light that animate in sequence, moving inward and outward to demonstrate the building’s energy usage/consumption as part of the ebb and flow of net-zero operation.

A central feature of the atrium is the swimming pool and its automated structural cover. The pool cover raises when the pool is not in use to create a walkable surface that is both super-insulated and vapor tight to greatly reduce heat and water loss when the pool is not in operation. The pool is heated through a water-to-water heat pump that efficiently utilizes excess heat load from the building and aids in balancing the annual heat profile of the facility.

The building is designed to provide natural ventilation during times of the year when outdoor air conditions permit. Under these conditions, windows located beneath the raised floor automatically open to provide a crossflow of air. In this mode, the occupant can choose to open additional glazing above the floor to increase the ventilation rate to their space. The building atrium acts as a thermal chimney, utilizing the buoyancy of warm air to induce airflows through the building. As outdoor air temperatures increase, variable speed fans located at the top of the atrium provide a “ventilation assist” to induce flow.