Feature of the Month: Gruzen Samton * IBI Group designs new 87,000 s/f Human Ecology Bldg. at Cornell

Gruzen Samton · IBI Group designed a new 87,000 s/f Human Ecology Building (HEB) at Cornell University to accommodate the needs of several departments, chiefly Design & Environmental Analysis and Textiles & Apparel. The new building provides state of the art labs, office and support facilities enhancing the student experience and fostering creative research. A multipurpose space, the Commons, acting as the college's living room, connects the existing College of Human Ecology buildings with the new facility and provides a forum for students and faculty from various departments to meet and cross-pollinate ideas. The design provides flexible, state-of-the-art laboratories and classroom spaces, serves as a gateway to the academic campus when approached from the residential North Campus, and gives a new identity to The College of Human Ecology. Occupied spaces have been placed on the perimeter to maximize their exposure to daytime lighting. Rooms have been equipped with Watt-Stopper occupancy-based lighting controls. The facility uses fully integrated building systems and is a high performance, environmentally sustainable design in compliance with NYS Executive Order 111, performing 46.6% better than a baseline building per ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1. The Human Ecology Building is LEED Platinum certified. The HEB utilizes a semi-united curtain wall system with low-e high performance glass and features an efficient HVAC system, including demand-control ventilation and air-handling system that recycle classroom air for use in large laboratory spaces. The College of Human Ecology examines human life within social and scientific paradigms, pulling together an assortment of interests, including sustainability, health, nutrition, ergonomics and textiles and fabrics. In designing the new facility, the architects succeeded in fulfilling the college's goal of celebrating that variety.