Sustainability Report

The project documentation provides a 60-year whole-life embodied carbon estimate of 69 kg CO₂e/ft² or 743 kg CO₂e/m².

This includes:

• Substructure
• Superstructure
• Enclosure
• Interior materials
• MEP systems

The project states that this was a high-level estimate using C.Scale.

The project incorporates wood-based materials that store biogenic carbon and incorporates multiple carbon-reduction strategies and documents a whole-life embodied carbon assessment. The principal strategies were:

1. Structural wood roof decking to reduce reliance on more carbon-intensive structural materials.
2. Wood exterior cladding, including charred wood and cedar.
3. Reduced cement content in concrete mixes to lower concrete-related embodied emissions.
4. Reduced interior finish materials, limiting material quantities and associated emissions.
5. Multi-functional spaces, reducing the amount of dedicated floor area and potentially avoiding additional materials.
6. Long service-life approach, with an estimated building service life of 100 years.
7. Healthier, lower-impact interior materials, including biobased carpet, PVC-free rubber wall bases, low-VOC finishes, and furniture without flame retardants

The project uses a strong combination of passive design and efficient all-electric systems:

• All-electric building, eliminating on-site fossil-fuel combustion.
• Ground-source heat pump system connected to a horizontal geothermal field.
• Radiant flooring for heating and cooling.
• High-performance building envelope.
• Energy recovery ventilator (ERV) with variable-speed pumping.
• LED lighting.
• Daylight access and lighting controls.
• Full-height glazing and orientation to increase useful daylight.
• Exterior sunshades and fritted glazing to control solar gains.
• Operable windows in dorm rooms.
• Destratification fans in the apparatus bay.
• PV-ready infrastructure, including roof, structural capacity, and electrical systems capable of supporting a 64 kW photovoltaic array

Several design decisions are likely to reduce replacement, maintenance, and associated lifecycle emissions.

• Long service-life design: estimated building service life of 100 years.
• Durable exterior materials: wood cladding, anodized aluminum, and high-performance glazing.
• Reduced interior finish materials, decreasing the number of materials requiring future replacement.
• Biobased carpet installed without adhesives, potentially simplifying replacement and reducing material use.
• PVC-free rubber wall base rather than vinyl.
• Low-VOC materials and durable interior finishes.
• Sedum green roofs and native landscaping, designed as low-maintenance landscape systems without permanent irrigation.
• Multi-functional spaces, reducing the need for additional dedicated rooms and future alterations.
• Flexible-use components, including a training tower that also functions as circulation and training space, and a retention pond used for both stormwater management and rescue training.