EARTH SHELTERED BUILDINGS COUPLED WITH THE SUN OPPORTUNITIES AND CONTRAINTS IN DESIGN

ABSTRACT The Civil/Mineral Engineering Building at the University of Minnesota U.S.A. is a 2,064,770 cu. ft. building, 95% of which is underground, 35% in mined space 110 feet below the surface. The building is programmed as an energy conservation demonstration, linking underground construction with a number of solar responsive components including solar shading with plant material, passive solar storage with water tubes and a system for illumination of interior spaces by tracking the sun with mirrors and optical lenses. The design of the Civil/Mineral Engineering Building was preceded by the design and construction of several other projects. Each of these have addressed similar issues relating to energy utilization and may be considered as antecedant work. The Civil/Mineral Engineering Building is under construction. Completion is anticipated in the Winter of 1982/1983.