SWBR and FXFOWLE RIT's Golisano Institute for Sustainability project earns LEED Platinum certification

According to SWBR Architects, Rochester Institute of Technology's Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). This marks the highest standard that can be achieved in the rating system. SWBR served as executive architect and architect of record on the project, with LeChase Construction Company as design-build team leader, FXFOWLE as design architect, M/E Engineering as the M/E/P and Stantec as the civil engineer. With a score of 80 required to achieve Platinum level, the GIS building earned 89 out of a possible 110 points within the USGBC's rating system, marking a "very rare achievement, especially for such an energy-intensive research facility," said Nabil Nasr, associate provost and director of GIS. "We are very proud to have earned the highest standard of LEED certification," said Mark Maddalina, AIA, LEED AP, sustainable design director at SWBR. "We are committed to the practice of sustainable design. Our mission is to protect the environment, exceed the expectations of our clients and community, and we have accomplished exactly that. This is a world-class facility that will bring worldwide opportunities in the future to sustainability research and education, and what an honor it has been to be part of it." The $36 million RIT GIS project consisted of a 84,000 s/f, four-story addition to the university, complete with cutting-edge "green" technology. It houses sustainability research, technology transfer, education and outreach, and is a showcase for green construction and design, as well as GIS masters and Ph.D. programs in sustainability and architecture. The project was completed in March 2013, and 26 LEED architects were involved in the renovation. GIS has been recognized locally and nationally with several awards since its opening in March 2013, awards include: Engineering News-Record Best Green Project, the Jeffery J. Zogg Build New York Award granted by Associated General Contractors of America; College Planning & Management Magazine's 2013 Sustainability and Innovation Award; the Illuminating Engineering Society of Rochester Energetix Excellence in Green Lighting award for Interior Lighting and most recently an AIA Rochester Chapter Design Award. The RIT GIS project was established and made possible by a $10 million donation from Paychex Inc. founder Thomas Golisano in 2007. Following this gift, RIT was awarded a $13.1 million grant by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Construction Grant Program and $10 million in funding from New York state. The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council awarded the project $5 million.