Sustainability Report

Embodied carbon overview

• The building’s design responds to its historic and urban context. The design team developed a custom glazed terracotta facade for its lower embodied carbon properties and material qualities. The burgundy terracotta references the brownstone of the Richard Upjohn-designed Gothic entrance arches and complements the greenhouse’s copper roof.
• The reuse and integration of the historic greenhouse contributed to a lower-embodied-carbon approach. Comprising 10 percent of the project’s floor area, the restored greenhouse was incorporated in its entirety, including a new opening along its southern edge replacing a previous blank brick wall. The approach repurposed a historic structure that had fallen into disrepair during the 2010s, reducing the amount of material sent to landfill.
• From the structure to the terracotta facade and interior details, the project prioritised resilient materials. Design decisions also considered supply chains and local sourcing during material selection. Most interior finishes were sourced within the United States in compliance with the requirements of the Build America Buy America (BABA) Act.
• Custom tables manufactured by Tri-Lox used reclaimed wood from felled trees within The Green-Wood Cemetery.

Operational emissions overview

• The project is certified LEED Gold and operates as an all-electric building.
• Using an integrated design approach, the design team used energy modelling to establish a site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) target of 60 kBtu/sf, measuring the building’s anticipated annual operational energy demand relative to floor area.
• Lighting systems are fully electric and incorporate integrated controls to maximise daylight use and reduce energy demand during low-occupancy periods and after hours.
• The use of all-electric heat pump HVAC systems with integrated dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) heat recovery support efficient heating and cooling while maintaining long-term thermal comfort.