Columbia University will soon begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the 80,700-sf building for the university’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons will provide eight floors of biomedical research and lab facilities as well as symposium and community engagement spaces.
With a design that uses significantly less energy than similar buildings, the Biomedical Research Building will outperform emission limits set by local law and is expected to perform 30% more efficiently than the commercial building benchmark. The facility also supports Columbia University’s plan to introduce no new fossil fuel infrastructure into campus buildings and to achieve campus-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.
Because laboratories have greater ventilation requirements than other buildings, they require more robust mechanical systems, which typically result in increased energy usage. The design team worked with sustainability consultant Atelier Ten to create an all-electric research lab building that could handle the facility’s high heating loads.
The Biomedical Research Building is heated and cooled with electric air source heat pumps that allow for energy recovery between the heating and cooling fluids, providing periods of free tempering during the year. Air-side energy recovery systems use waste heat to reduce the total energy needed to condition the building.
The high-performance façade features a window-to-wall ratio below 50%. Exterior shading and a louver system reduce solar heat gain and glare while reflecting natural light into the labs.
The building’s design integrates biophilic elements such as green walls and natural and renewable materials in collaboration spaces. A large connecting stair encourages active circulation, and corner lounges foster collaboration among researchers.
On the Building Team:
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF)
MEP engineer: AKF Group
Structural engineer: Hatfield Group
Sustainability consultant: Atelier Ten
Lab planning consultant: Jacobs
Construction manager: LF Driscoll Healthcare
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Oct 22, 2020
The Weekly show: Universal design in multifamily housing, reimagining urban spaces, back to campus trends
BD+C editors speak with experts from KTGY Architecture + Planning, LS3P, and Omgivning on the October 22 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Building Team Awards | Oct 21, 2020
Big Room equals big results
Tucson’s Banner University Medical Center is honored with a Gold Award in the 2020 Building Team Awards.
Building Team Awards | Oct 21, 2020
New York’s STEM epicenter and career gateway
The CUNY New York City College of Technology Academic Building wins a Gold Award in BD+C’s 2020 Building Team Awards.
University Buildings | Sep 16, 2020
A new interprofessional hub opens on U. Minnesota’s campus
The Health Sciences Education Center includes two floors for simulation and immersive training.
University Buildings | Sep 10, 2020
Des Moines University begins construction on new 88-acre campus
RDG Planning & Design is the design firm.
Airports | Sep 10, 2020
The Weekly show: Curtis Fentress, FAIA, on airport design, and how P3s are keeping university projects alive
The September 10 episode of BD+C's "The Weekly" is available for viewing on demand.
University Buildings | Sep 8, 2020
William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center opens at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs
HOK and RTA designed the project.
University Buildings | Sep 2, 2020
University of North Carolina Charlotte Academic Complex completes
Woolpert provided design and engineering upgrades for the project.
University Buildings | Aug 31, 2020
Spain’s Loyola University earns world’s first LEED Platinum verification for an ‘integrated campus’
luis vidal + architects designed the project.
Giants 400 | Aug 28, 2020
2020 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
The 2020 Giants 400 Report features more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
