Russ-Berrie Biomedical Research Pavilion, Columbia University

The Russ-Berrie Biomedical Research Park is an exemplar for transitioning to a fully decarbonized built environment. Atelier Ten’s energy analysis established the system strategy for this first all-electric research laboratory in New York City.

Driven by Columbia University’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Atelier Ten led the design team to develop a strategy to decarbonize not only the project itself, but the entire block. The building’s systems were designed to leverage the electrification of the laboratory as well its neighboring buildings. Energy efficiency measures, carbon reduction strategies and overall sustainability approach recommended by Atelier Ten were holistically focused to support this ambitious and complex goal.

The building design utilizes air source heat pumps (ASHPs) to allow for energy recovery between heating and cooling and offer significant energy savings. Additionally, air side energy recovery systems will capture heat from the exhaust air, reducing the energy required to ventilate this laboratory building.

In addition to operational carbon efficiency, the project prioritized embodied carbon reductions. Atelier Ten conducted a whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) to estimate the embodied carbon emissions associated with the new construction of the project and emissions saved by reusing the existing building foundation.

The proposed design achieves a 36% reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) when compared to a standard new construction building. This includes the reductions with reuse of the existing building and the selection of low carbon new materials (particularly concrete). The project’s GWP intensity is 342 kgCO2e/m2.