New health sciences center at St. John’s University will feature geothermal heating, cooling

The recently topped off St. Vincent Health Sciences Center at St. John’s University in New York City will feature impressive green features, including geothermal heating and cooling and an array of rooftop solar panels. The geothermal field consists of 66 wells drilled 499 feet below ground which will help to heat and cool the 70,000-sf structure.
 
High-performance, energy-efficient windows will reduce thermal loss. The elongated east-west floor plan of the building will maximize daylight, and skylights will help reduce artificial lighting usage by 22% during daylight hours. State-of-the-art building control systems will optimize lighting, space occupancy, and temperature throughout the building. The facility is projected to be one of the greenest buildings on campus.
 
The bright, sun-splashed Dorethea and Nickolas Davatzes Atrium will welcome visitors as they enter from the Great Lawn. The center will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, cutting-edge laboratories, patient simulation facilities, and transformative virtual reality technology to support real-world clinical training that is redefining what is possible in the healthcare industry, according Shawmut Design and Construction, the project's construction manager.
 
When complete, the building will feature collaborative spaces, outdoor terraces, and attractive vistas to become a hub for generations of caregivers, healthcare professionals, and individuals who are committed to improving the lives of others. The facility is scheduled to open in 2024.
 
Owner and/or developer: St. John’s University
Design architect: CannonDesign
MEP engineer: CannonDesign
Structural engineer: CannonDesign
Construction manager: Shawmut Design and Construction