L A B O R A T O R I E S F O R T H E 2 1 ST C E N T U R Y :


C ASE S TUDIES


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Laboratory Type 

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NIDUS CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC 

ENTERPRISE, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 

Introduction 

The Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise makes excellent use of energy recovery and other 

design features that help to save a considerable amount of energy. This center, a pioneer in the 

certification process for energy-efficient buildings, is a not-for-profit plant biotechnology and life 

sciences incubator in St. Louis, Missouri, sponsored by the Monsanto Company. It provides support 

services, technical and business advice, and reasonably priced office and laboratory facilities to 

local start-up companies that commercialize promising new ideas. The center also helps to draw 

researchers and entrepreneurs to the region and to retain others, such as those who attend local 

universities and work at the Danforth Plant Science Center, Monsanto, and other nearby firms. 

U.S. Department of Energy

Environmental 

United States 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

Protection Agency Federal Energy Management Program 

Steve Hall, Hedrick-Blessing/PIX12656 
2 LABS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY


The Nidus Center has many sustainable, highperformance features. They include a flexible layout, 

self-sustaining landscaping, extensive use of daylighting, 

an efficient mechanical system with energy recovery, and 

water conservation. Local materials were used extensively, 

as well as materials containing low amounts of volatile 

organic compounds (VOCs) and those with a high 

recycled content. 

For all its sustainable feaures, the Nidus Center 

received a silver rating through the U.S. Green Buildings 

Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system, Version 1.0. 

The facility was involved in pilot projects testing the certification process and was one of the first 12 buildings to 

receive LEED certification. It was the first LEED-certified 

lab. 

This case study is one in a series produced by 

Laboratories for the 21st Century, a joint program of the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the 

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is geared toward 

architects and engineers who are familiar with laboratory 

buildings. The program encourages the design, construction, and operation of safe, sustainable, high-performance 

laboratories. 

Project Description 

The Nidus Center is a two-story, 41,233 gross ft2 

(22,554 net ft2) laboratory and office building on the 

northeast corner of Monsanto’s 210-acre corporate campus 

in St. Louis. It was completed in the fall of 1999 at a cost 

of $10.2 million for the building, interiors, and site work 

($247/gross ft2). It was designed by the architectural firm 

of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, Inc. (HOK). The structural and civil engineers were EDM, Inc.; William Tao & 

Associates were the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing 

engineers. The general contractor was the Paric 

Corporation. 

The center serves entrepreneurial clients who are 

researching, refining, and preparing plant and life science 

technologies for the marketplace. The facility offers wet 

and dry lab space as well as office space for approximately 

8 to 10 companies. It is designed to accommodate 

24 wet/dry laboratories and 22 private offices. It also 

includes conference rooms, a work room for support 

services, and a large break area that adjoins a plant-filled 

atrium. The Nidus Center offers important services for 

start-up companies, such as business planning and 

negotiation assistance, mentoring, and access to sources 

of venture capital. A network of professionals is also 

available to serve as advisory board members or temporary management. 

Layout and Design 

The Nidus Center building is oriented along an eastwest axis; the long sides face north and south to take 

advantage of natural lighting. A central hall runs along the 

spine of the building. Labs are laid out in modules 11 ft 

Figure 1. Floor plan of the building (courtesy of HOK Architects) 
L A B S F O R T H E 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y 
 3 

wide by 33 ft long, and each laboratory is composed of 

two modules. Each laboratory also has one enclosed office 

with a large window that looks into the lab, and each lab 

has a gas storage room. 

Every laboratory faces either north or south, with 

windows that take advantage of daylighting while providing a view to the outside. All the windows on the south 

side include interior light shelves to reflect light into the 

labs and exterior sun shades/overhangs. Offices for scientists, building administrative functions, and building 

functional support are on both floors along a curved wall 

on the south side of the building. The floor plan for Level 2 

is shown in Figure 1. 

The building has a large, two-story interior atrium 

adjacent to a naturally lit coffee bar/break area with an 

adjacent outdoor shaded patio, as shown in Figure 2. In 

the two-story spaces, angled and perforated metal exterior 

sun shades block direct sunlight, but permit views of the 

sky through the perforations. 

A curved stone wall evokes the agricultural image of 

the old stone barns of rural Missouri. Many details were 

incorporated into the building to reflect the type of agricultural and plant science research carried out in the facility. For example, corrugated galvanized metal is used as an 

interior accent finish, as an exterior finish material around 

the inset windows, and for rainwater-collecting cisterns. 

Agricultural items such as weathervanes and watering 

cans are artfully integrated into building’s signage; some 

signs were even designed to look like seed packages. A 

view of the exterior showing the cisterns and exterior 

overhangs for daylighting is shown in Figure 3. 

The center’s 24 laboratories were designed to accommodate one fume hood each, although currently only 10 

labs use fume hoods. The building was designed primarily to be a Biosafety Level 2 (BL-2) laboratory. BL-2 labs are 

suitable for work involving agents of moderate potential 

hazard to people and their environments. 

Utility Ser vicing 

Utilities run horizontally in the space above the ceilings on both floors. The main air supply for the building 

runs above the central hallway. The general exhaust ducts 

run parallel to the supply air on both sides, in about the 

middle of the labs. The fume hood exhaust runs parallel 

in the horizontal ceiling space adjacent to the windows. 

Boilers, chillers, air handlers, and 8-ft-high heat recovery 

wheels are all in the building’s basement. Industrial hot 

and cold water, vacuum, natural gas, and potable hot and 

cold water are piped through the ceiling to each lab bench. 

There is a central reverse-osmosis deionized water system 

Steve Hall, Hedrick-Blessing/PIX12814 

Figure 2. The Nidus Center’s break room opens onto an 

outdoor patio. 

Breakdown 

(In net ft2

Function Size 

(net ft2) (1) 

Labs 13,562 60% 

Lab support 865 4% 

Scientists’ lab offices 4,787 21% 

Administrative offices 1,270 6% 

Building functional support 2,073 9% 

2 22,554 100% 

Other (2) 18,679 

2 41,233 

Notes: 

2 only; net ft2 equals gross ft2 

electrical rooms and shafts, and structural elements like columns; the net-togross-ft2 ratio is 0.55. 

Table 1. Nidus Center Space 

, unless otherwise noted) 

Percentage of 

Total Space 

Total net ft

Total gross ft

1. The percentage is a breakdown of the net ft

minus “other.” 

2. “Other” includes circulation, toilets, stairs, elevator shafts, mechanical and 
4 L A B S F O R T H E 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y 
 Steve Hall, Hedrick-Blessing/PIX12657 

Figure 3. Exterior view of the Nidus Center shows the cisterns 

that store rainwater for irrigation and the exterior overhangs. 

for the labs and a centralized glass wash and autoclave 

capability. 

Design Approach 

A goal for the facility was to be designated a green 

building by the USGBC. Because it was one of the first 

LEED projects, the building’s owner, designers and contractors faced some challenges associated with pilottesting the newly designed LEED Version 1.0 certification 

process. Several of the LEED credits—such as the need 

to develop a construction waste management plan— 

required the general contractor to develop new ways of 

doing business. During the design process, the team members used such tools as collaborative decision-making, 

design charrettes, and energy simulation modeling. The 

facility was successfully designed and built in 18 months. 

Technologies Used 

One major site consideration was the landscape 

design. It introduced native plantings rich in color and 

texture, such as native river birch, cinnamon fern, flowering dogwood, and moonbeam coreopsis. No in-ground 

irrigation system is needed, however. Reclaimed rainwater from the roof is stored in cisterns to irrigate the 

plants and grass. 

Shower facilities in the building help to promote 

alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycling. 

Part of the site was once a parking lot. Now, however, 

specially designated parking spaces are near building 

entrances to promote carpooling. 

Daylighting and Lighting 

The building was designed to allow daylight in all lab 

suites and public areas. Each tenant can make use of large 

windows on both the north and south sides of the building. The windows on the south side are divided into two 

sections. The lower section has tinted glass and exterior 

sun shades to help reduce the impact of low-angle sunlight. An internal horizontal overhang that also functions 

as a light shelf allows light to penetrate deeper into the 

building. The north windows, though large, do not need 

tinted glass or overhangs for shading because of their 

orientation. 

The design of the interior ceiling in the labs helps to 

make the daylighting more efficient. It is highest, at 12 ft, 

along the north and south perimeter, and it slopes toward 

the center of the space to a 9-ft-high ceiling. This design 

also eliminates dark spots near the center of the ceiling. 

The strategies all work together to maximize daylight in 

the spaces. Figure 4 is a view inside a typical laboratory. 

Public spaces in the building are naturally daylit by 

an internal atrium with a skylight. Because of the atrium, 

the connecting stair, coffee bar/break room, conference 

rooms, corridors, and lobby are bathed in light. Hallways 

include windows with views at each end. Windows in the 

enclosed offices within the labs “borrow” the light in each 

lab suite. 

The connected lighting load is 1.4 W/gross ft2. The 

electric lighting in each lab is controlled with multiple 

switches to allow users to adjust artificial lighting, as 

needed. The switching involves two levels in two zones. 

Lighting in corridors is controlled with wall switches so 

individual corridors can be switched off when a wing of 

the building is unoccupied. Lighting in the atrium is controlled with photocells and time clocks, to save energy. 

Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning 

The Nidus Center uses one integrated mechanical system with energy recovery for labs and offices. The system 

keeps general exhaust from the labs separate from fume 

hood exhaust. Make-up air for the offices is 100% outside 

air. It first cascades through the offices and then flows 

through the labs. 

According to the mechanical engineer, the enthalpy 

wheels recover 80% of the heating and cooling energy 

from this exhaust air stream and transfer it to the make-up 

air stream. This is the energy equivalent of recirculating 
LABS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
 5 

this system. A DOE-2 computer simulaSteve Hall, Hedrick-Blessing/PIX12660 

integrated system uses two air-handling 

units for both lab and office areas, providing one fewer unit than conventional 

systems, which have one air handler per 

office area and two per lab area. The 

resulting savings in equipment and 

space, in comparison to the cost of a 

conventional air-handling system, were 

estimated at more than $100,000. In 

addition, the energy recovery wheels 

reduced both heating and cooling loads, 

allowing smaller chillers, boilers, 

pumps, and piping systems to be used. 

These smaller components saved more 

than $210,000; therefore, total first-cost 

savings were about $310,000. 

The amount of electricity needed for 

cooling, gas for heating, and power for 

utility distribution were all reduced by 

Figure 4. Inside view of a typical laboratory 

80% of the general exhaust without the potential hazards 

associated with actual recirculation. The use of 100% outside air in the offices results in a quantity of ventilation air 

greater than that required by ASHRAE standard 62-89. 

Labs have the 100% outside air required for safety. The 

diagram in Figure 5 depicts the integrated system. 

Fume hood exhaust is discharged in a dedicated 

exhaust system. The labs use 10 air changes per hour, 

as specified by the building owner. The fume hoods and 

general supply and exhaust air system have variable-airvolume (VAV) controls. The fume hoods all have a zone 

presence sensor that sets back the 

face velocity from 100 ft per 

tion analysis showed that the Nidus 

Center would consume about 38% less 

energy than a conventional building would, resulting in 

annual energy cost savings of $60,000 at current rates. This 

level of savings was confirmed in an examination of two 

years’ worth of utility bills. 

An integrated HVAC system also provides flexibility. 

Since labs and offices are on the same system, it is easier 

to change from wet labs to dry labs, from labs to offices, 

and from offices to labs over the life of the building. The 

key is a single, integrated system serving both labs and 

offices from the same main ducts. Conversion can be 

accomplished locally by modifying boxes and room 

minute (fpm) to 60 fpm when the 

lab is not occupied. 

The two exhaust stacks have 

integral fans and outside dampers 

to entrain outside air and substantially dilute the exhaust stream. 

According to the manufacturer, the 

exhaust nozzle design enhances 

flow and pressure to increase outlet velocities while minimizing 

horsepower requirements. 

Consolidating the entire building into one system lowered first 

costs by minimizing the number of 

air-handling units needed. The 

Office Corridor Lab 

Figure 5. Diagram of the Nidus Center’s mechanical system 
6 L A B S F O R T H E 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y 


ductwork to deliver more or less air, as needed, for the 

new function. 

Materials 

The design team specified regionally manufactured 

brick and metal roofing. The earth fill, concrete, concrete 

masonry unit (CMU) block, steel, drywall, doors, and window blinds were also available locally. Overall, more than 

60% of the materials used in constructing the building 

were acquired within a 300-mile radius, and more than 

50% of the materials contain significant recycled content. 

All the interior materials—including paint, adhesives, and 

finishes—are low in VOCs. The waste management subcontractor separates materials and provides recycling off 

site. Asphalt, concrete, metals, cardboard, and plastics 

were all recycled. 

Indoor Environmental Quality 

Indoor air quality is enhanced by using 100% outside 

air in the offices. It is also enhanced by a living wall of 

indoor plants in the atrium, which provides natural air 

filtration. 

System Key Design Annual Energy Use Annual Energy Use 

Parameters (based on design data) (based on utility bills) 

Supply = 1.15 W/cfm 30 kWh/gross ft2 29.6 kWh/gross ft2 for the sum of 

(Sum of wattage Exhaust = 0.73 W/cfm (42.4 kWh/net ft2) (3) ventilation and cooling 

of all the supply (1) 

and exhaust fans) 2.6 cfm/net ft

Cooling Plant 350 tons (2 @175 tons each) 15 kWh/gross ft See ventilation 

0.61 kW/ton 

Lighting 1.4 W/gross ft2 6.3 kWh/gross ft See process/plug 

Process/Plug 8 W/net ft2 18.5 kWh/gross ft 14.6 kWh/ gross ft2/yr for the 

sum of plug and lights 

Heating Plant 3,024 MBH (2 boilers at 1512 65 kBtu/gross ft2/yr (7) 147.3 kBtu/gross ft2/yr 

each; 1 MBH is the equivalent of 

1000 Btu/hr) 

69.8 kWh/gross ft2/yr for 44.2 kWh/gross ft2/yr for 2002 electricity only 

electricity only (238 kBtu/ (151 kBtu/gross ft2/yr for electricity only) (8) 

gross ft2/yr for electricity only) 

301 kBtu/gross ft2/yr 298 kBtu/gross ft2 

Actual annual cost for electricity and gas equals 

$2.15/gross ft2/yr (based on 2002 utility bills) 

Notes: 

W/cfm)/2 = 0.93 W/cfm. 

2 = 2.6 cfm/net ft2 (1.4 cfm/gross ft2). 

3. 0.93 W/cfm x 1.41 cfm/gross ft2 x 8760 hours x 2/1000 = 29.9 kWh/gross ft2 (42.4 kWh/net ft2). 

4. 0.61 kW/ton x 350 tons x 2890 hours / 41,233 gross ft2 = 14.96 kWh/gross ft2 (assumes cooling runs 33% of the hours in a year). 

5. 1.4 W/gross ft2 x 4534 hours /1000 = 6.34 kWh/gross ft2 (assumes lights are on 87.2 hrs/week). 

6. 4.4 W/gross ft2 x 0.80 x 5256 hours/1000 = 18.5 kWh/gross ft2 (8 W/net ft2 x 0.55 = 4.4 W/gross ft2) (assumes that 80% of all equipment is operating 

60% of the hours in a year). 

7. The simulation estimates heating energy at 65 kBtu/gross ft2

8. 

Note: 

4,758 heating degree-days and 1,534 cooling degree-days). 

Table 2. Nidus Center Metrics 

Ventilation 

Average = 0.93 W/cfm 

2 (2) 

2 (4) 

2 (5) 

2 (6) 

Total 

Total estimated energy use = Total energy usage in 2002 = 

1. W/cfm for supply air = 52,000 cfm ÷ 30 kW = 1.15 W/cfm; for exhaust air = 58,200 cfm ÷ 42.6 kW = 0.73 W/cfm; average = (1.15 W/cfm + 0.73 

2. 58,200 cfm (exhaust) ÷ 22,554 net ft

/yr. 

Total electric use for the building in 2002 equaled 1,832,216 kWh. July was the peak demand month in 2002, at 412 kW. Natural gas use equaled 

607 therms. 

Estimated data are presented in site Btu (1 kWh = 3412 Btu). To convert to source Btu, multiply site Btu for electricity by 3. St Louis has approx. 
L A B S F O R T H E 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y 
 7 

Water Efficiency 

Above-ground galvanized metal cisterns collect rainwater from the roof and store it for irrigation. This system 

saves water and associated pumping energy while reducing the load on drainage and storm-water systems. The 

plumbing fixtures use 20% less water than that specified 

in the water usage requirements of the Energy Policy Act 

of 1992. The plumbing fixtures used include 1.6-gallonsper-flush (gpf) toilets and 1-gpf urinals. The contractor 

then adjusted the flows to 1.3 and 0.7 gpf, respectively. 

Low-flow faucets and showers were also specified. 

The cooling towers were designed to reduce drift and 

evaporation. 

Measurement and Evaluation 

Approach 

The building manager monitors and tracks energy 

bills to determine cost savings. The general contractor 

performed the commissioning for the building to ensure 

system performance. 

Building Metrics 

Table 2 summarizes the building’s metrics and compares the total annual estimated energy use to the actual 

use shown in the energy bills. Actual measured energy 

use, based on the two years’ worth of energy bills, averaged 322 kBtu/ft2/yr. The data reported in Table 2 are 

for 2002 only, when energy use was slightly lower at 

298 kBtu/ft2/yr. 

Metered data show electrical use in two categories: 

(1) process/plug and lighting loads, and (2) ventilation 

and cooling loads. The process/plug and lighting loads 

account for 33% of the total electrical load, while ventilation and cooling account for 66%. 

The 38% savings represents the difference between 

the ASHRAE 90.1 base case building, which was simulated at 517 kBtu/ft2/yr, and the two-year actual usage, 

322 kBtu/ft2/yr. The building’s actual total energy use 

over two years was about 6% less than the 347 kBtu/gross 

ft2/yr predicted by the simulation model. Annual energy 

use data shown in the middle column of Table 2 are based 

on estimates from the design parameters rather than the 

simulation model except for heating energy, which was 

taken from the simulation. The estimates in the table for 

electrical uses are higher than the actual performance. The 

estimate for heating is lower than actual performance. 

Summary 

The Nidus Center achieved a silver LEED rating for 

its energy-efficient, green design. Because this was one of 

the first pilot projects for LEED, the design team played 

an important role in crafting the LEED methodology. The 

building design process involved several highly effective 

elements, such as an integrated team, collaborative decision-making, and design charrettes. 

The design itself incorporates many energy-efficient, 

sustainable design practices. The form and orientation of 

the building—along an east-west axis with the long sides 

facing north and south—were optimal for daylighting. 

The daylighting system incorporates windows for views, 

apertures for daylighting, internal and external light 

shelves on the south side, and a sloped ceiling. The 

mechanical system uses VAV controls on the fume hoods 

and supply and exhaust air as well as an energy recovery 

system. The building has rainwater cisterns to retain water 

for irrigating the site and incorporates recycled and local 

materials. 

Energy use in the building is as designed—approximately 38% better than a conventional laboratory building 

designed to the ASHRAE 90.1-1989 standard. Actual 

metered data for the building demonstrate these energy 

savings. 

Acknowledgements 

This case study would not have been possible without 

the contributions of Kelly Jobe, Bill Odell, Robert 

Barringer, and David Chassin of HOK Architects; Richard 

Janis of William Tao & Associates, Consulting Engineers; 

and David Broughton of the Nidus Center. The case study 

was written by Nancy Carlisle and Otto Van Geet of the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Paula 

Pitchford, editor, and Susan Sczepanski, graphic designer, 

NREL, also contributed to this case study 
8 

For More Information 

On the Nidus Center: 

David L. Broughton 

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating 

Officer 

893 North Warson Road 

St. Louis, MO 63141 

314-812-8002 

david.l.broughton@niduscenter.com 

David Chassin, A.I.A. 

HOK Architects 

271 North Broadway, 6th Floor 

St. Louis, MO 63102 

314-754-4308 

david.chassin@HOK.com 

Rich Janis, P.E. 

William Tao & Associates, Inc. 

349 Marshall Ave., Suite 200 

St. Louis, MO 63119 

314-961-5258 

rrjanis@primary.net 

Laboratories for the 21st Century 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Administration and Resources Management 

www.epa.gov/labs21century/ 

In partnership with the 

U.S. Department of Energy

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

Bringing you a prosperous future where energy 

is clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable 

www.eere.energy.gov/ 

Prepared at the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

A DOE national laboratory 

On Laboratories for the 21st Century: 

Phil Wirdzek 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. 

Washington, DC 20460 

202-564-2094 

wirdzek.phil@epamail.epa.gov 

Will Lintner, P.E. 

U.S. Department of Energy 

Federal Energy Management Program 

1000 Independence Ave., S.W. 

Washington, DC 20585 

202-586-4858 

william.lintner@ee.doe.gov 

Nancy Carlisle, A.I.A. 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

1617 Cole Blvd. 

Golden, CO 80401 

303-384-7509 

Nancy_Carlisle@nrel.gov 

DOE/GO-102003-1772 

October 2003 

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 

50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste