Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sustainability Hall at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is
a LEED-Platinum certified research center that is home to the
Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS).
The building is a spectacular, collaborative learning
environment with academic labs, test beds, classrooms and
offices that support the Institute’s unique mission and
research in sustainability. Displaying a wide array of
sustainable design concepts, materials, systems and
technologies, it is serves as a living laboratory for RIT’s
Architecture, Engineering and Sustainability programs.
Climate, context and the Institute’s mission were key drivers
of the overall design. The building is composed of two shifted
“bars” that together form a central galleria. The four-story
north bar contains laboratories and test beds, mechanical
spaces, academic and student areas. The three-story south
bar accommodates academic teaching spaces,
administrative offices and support areas with a vegetated
green roof above. The galleria, a central social/interactive
space, connects and encloses part of the university’s
pathway system. A soaring roof canopy spans the galleria
and extends outward, unifying the overall composition while
providing an icon for the institute and a gateway for the
quadrangle beyond.
GIS
The project improved this site through sustainable
infrastructure strategies for permeability and rainwater
management, including a bioretention area, dry swale,
raingarden and vegetated roof. Careful siting and form
provided a connected pedestrian environment that aligns
with campus master plan goals.
Key:
Existing Campus Buildings
Planned Development
Conceptual Development Plan
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
The design process included parametric building envelope
modeling, iterative energy and daylight modeling, the
educational potential of our choices and parallel cost
estimation to ensure that all building design decisions were
coordinated with the project budget.
Collaboration with the local zoo’s Butterfly Beltway program
resulted in a 3,300 SF combination vegetated green roof and
butterfly habitat and serves RIT as a cross-curricular
education component. Easily visible and accessible from the
fourth floor, there is also ‘plug-and-play’ capability for rooftop
solar and other technologies that makes this a unique
academic laboratory for RIT.
GIS optimizes daylight and energy savings and provides
excellent daylight autonomy. As a result of its passive design
strategies, energy-efficient systems, high-performance
facades, a 400kW fuel cell and a 40kW solar array, the
building is designed to be 56% more efficient than a baseline
building and reduced its carbon footprint by 61%, in
alignment with AIA 2030 goals. Incorporating extensive data
sensors, control systems, feedback loops and microgrid
technology, RIT is able to monitor and inform building
operations. The GIS building has the capacity to be one of
the most informative green buildings in the world.
The building envelope and building systems design were
highly integrated. The south facade features solar shades
designed to reduce direct solar heat gain by 70%, thereby
reducing the building’s cooling demand and enabling the
use of active chilled beam technology for cooling. Perimeter
radiation systems were eliminated throughout the building
through the design of this high performance building
envelope and the application of innovative new radiant glass
technology.Extraordinary integration and collaboration
between the architects, engineers, construction team,
daylight & energy modelers and our client made this project
exemplary.
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Decision Theater
Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
Classroom
Fuel Cell Test Bed
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Open Collaboration Area
East Entrance at Dusk
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
South Facade at Dusk
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
A-Level Floor Plan
B
4
1
2
1
3
1
1
3
0
B
LEGEND
1
2
BUILDING SYSTEMS
3
UNEXCAVATED
LOWER LEVEL ENTRANCE VESTIBULE
4
EXTERIOR STORAGE AND FUEL CELL
8’
16’
40’
N
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
LABORATORY, TEST BED
AND RESEARCH
First Floor Plan
ACADEMIC/OFFICE
GALLERIA
9
0
8’
16’
40’
N
9
LOADING/ SERVICE/ RECYCLING
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
ACADEMIC/OFFICE
GALLERIA
LAB, ACADEMIC STUDENT
OFFICE AND RESEARCH
Second Floor Plan
0
8’
16’
40’
N
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
ACADEMIC/OFFICE
GALLERIA
LABORATORY, TEST BED
AND RESEARCH
Third Floor Plan
0
8’
16’
40’
N
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
GREEN ROOF
AND ROOF LAB
GALLERIA
LABORATORY, TEST BED
AND RESEARCH
Fourth Floor Plan
0
8’
16’
40’
N
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Building Section East-West A-A
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Building Section North-South B-B
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
400 kW Fuel Cell
Energy Recovery &
Heat Capture
High Performance Design + Building Energy Systems
Continuous R-36 Roof
Solar PV Systems
With Future Capacity
Building Microgrid
Accessible Vegetated
Green Roof & Energy
Research
Battery Storage
System
Four-story Galleria
with Energy
Dashboard &
Educational
Exhibits
High-Performance
Building Façade
designed to balance
Daylight & Energy
Vertical Axis
Wind Turbines
Solar Shading
Controls Heat Gain
and Manages Glare
Electric Vehicle
Charging Stations
Geothermal Well Field
Rain Garden
Rainwater Cistern
for Capture &
Reuse
Low Energy Cooling
and Heating Systems
Radiant Floor System
A LEED-Platinum Living Laboratory of Sustainability
Improved
circulation areas
foster casual
student-teacher
interaction.
“Active Design”
Indoor Air Quality
Daylight + Views
Thermal Comfort
A mix of learning
environments
supports individual
and group work.
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Results
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENERGY SAVINGS
Envelope Performance:
15%
Systems Performance:
31%
Exterior Fuel Cell:
11%
LEED 2009 89/110 POINTS
DESIGN ENERGY SAVINGS BEYOND ASHRAE 90.1:
LEED 2009 EAc1 offers a maximum of 19 points at 48% savings.
GIS earned exemplary performance in this category.
56.5%
REDUCTION IN ANNUAL CARBON FOOTPRINT:
(AIA 2030 GOAL OF 60%)
61%
PERCENT ONSITE RENEWABLE ENERGY:
5.1%
PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES:
100%
ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS:
75%
RECYCLED + REGIONAL MATERIALS (EACH):
25%
FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL CERTIFIED WOOD:
88%
RECYCLED CONSTRUCTION WASTE:
80%
OCCUPIED BUILDING SF DAYLIGHT AUTONOMOUS:
60%
OCCUPANTS W/ QUALITY VIEWS TO THE EXTERIOR:
90%
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Insight from the Integrative Process
SWBR has embraced the integrative process that has made
the LEED-Platinum Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS)
building a success. The value of achieving alignment and
shared goals between all major stakeholders at the outset of
the project proved invaluable.
Recognizing the critical importance of improved understanding
and integration to achieving high-performance sustainable
design goals, the project began with a goal-setting session
that included many stakeholders - faculty, staff, students,
facilities personnel, architects, engineers and construction
team – led by 7Group, a nationally recognized team of
sustainability consultants and co-authors of The Integrative
Design Guide to Green Building. Critical goals were
established, ranging from the fiscal & functional to the
sustainable & aspirational, then ultimately ranked, so that the
values of our stakeholders were clear. This enabled the project
team to align, diligently returning to these and benchmarking
their efforts throughout the project.
Our integration as a Design-Build team was fundamental to
controlling cost and delivering the project on an aggressive
schedule. Client expectations included:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Two-Phase Development
Fast-Track Schedule
Design-Build Delivery Method
Guaranteed Maximum Price
LEED-Platinum Certification Goal
Experienced Team
Architecture captures GIS Mission and RIT vocabulary
The success of this project is due to the team’s experience,
mutual respect and commitment to these shared project
goals.
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
“It’s a very
emotional day for
me. Very seldom
do people have
dreams that the
reality is better
than what they
dreamed of.”
- Dr. Nabil Nasr, RIT
Assistant Provost and the
Director of the Golisano
Institute for Sustainability
USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi presents the LEED-Platinum
plaque to RIT and the Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
Project Information
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Rochester Institute of Technology
1 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
Building Area:
83,670 Square Feet
Construction Cost:
$35,993,906
Substantial Completion:
January 2013
Project Team
Client:
RIT and the
Golisano Institute for Sustainability
Design-Builder:
LeChase Construction Services
Managing Architect:
SWBR Architects
Design Architect:
FXFOWLE
Structural Engineer:
SWBR Architects
Landscape Architect:
SWBR Architects
Mechanical, Electrical
& Plumbing Engineer:
M/E Engineering
Civil Engineer:
Stantec
Energy Modeler:
SAIC
Commissioning Agent:
Horizon Engineering Associates
Daylight Modeler:
Loisos + Ubbelohde
Curtain Wall
Design Consultant:
Wheaton & Sprague