Oct 19, 2009 7:55 pm US/Eastern
NYC College Unveils Eco-Friendly Science Lab
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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One of New York City's oldest colleges has unveiled one of the newest, and most eco-friendly, buildings. Officials at the Cooper Union say their new laboratory was designed to take a 150-year-old institution into the 21st Century.
CBS
One of New York City's oldest colleges has unveiled one of the newest, and most eco-friendly, buildings. Officials at the Cooper Union say their new laboratory was designed to take a 150-year-old institution into the 21st Century.
"Inspired space for inspired learning" – that's how Cooper Union Vice President Ronni Denes describes the sparkling new laboratory building at 41 Cooper Square.
"The building is designed to foster thought, creativity, new ideas," Denes said.
Inside, an intricate lattice envelops the floor-to-ceiling Atrium. The attractive feature exposes 75 percent of the building to daylight and reduces electric use.
Outside, perforated, stainless steel panels cover the building's curved glass and aluminum window walls. The second skin shades the structure when it's warm outside and insulates it during cold weather.
There's also a co-generation plant and a radiant heating and cooling system that are expected to make the building 40% more energy efficient.
"Air conditioning and heating goes through cold or hot water that runs through the ceiling tubing," Denes said.
The Cooper Union is the nations only private, full-scholarship college, dedicated to the study of architecture, art and engineering. The new nine-story building boasts eco-friendly technology from the green roof to the polished concrete floors, which wasn't easy to accomplish in a lab building.
"We have fume hoods in the building that create 12 air changes per hour," Denes said. "It brings in fresh air from outside, and takes the air in the laboratory and pushes it out high enough over the streets so that it dissipates."
The new structure isn't the only eco-friendly part of Cooper Union – so is a portion of their curriculum. In fact, they even have classes to teach architects, engineers and construction professionals how to build green.
"It covers all the areas of sustainable design," David Greenstein, director of continuing education at Cooper Union, said.
Greenstein's department oversees the Green Building Design Certificate Program, including an exam prep course professionals must pass to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
"A lot of people are coming to these courses to catch up on what they missed so that they can really compete," Greenstein said.
The new eco-friendly building has become an important teaching tool for Cooper Union's undergraduate and professional students. Its eco-friendly features are expected to earn the highest green certification possible for a building. If that happens, 41 Cooper Square will be the first academic laboratory in New York City with that distinction.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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