Construction
As Rockefeller maintains and improves facilities, there is a commitment to make choices in construction design and materials that lessen the impact on the environment.
Collaborative Research Center
The Collaborative Research Center (CRC) is scheduled to earn a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certificate from the U.S. Green Building Council after Flexner Hall is finished in 2012. A LEED certificate indicates that the CRC has met the nationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of a high-performance green building.
The CRC is designed to utilize natural light and includes:
- Reclamation of energy from laboratory exhaust air.
- Dehumidification equipment to assist with air conditioning.
- High-efficiency transformers to reduce electrical waste.
- High-performance windows to increase thermal efficiency.
- High-performance insulation to increase thermal efficiency.
- Recycled construction materials.
- Areas for equipment that generate heat located away from offices and benches so less air conditioning will be necessary.
- Building materials that do not create off-gassing made from recycled materials and manufactured locally, when possible.
- Renovation of two existing buildings, Flexner Hall and Theobold Smith Hall, which uses significantly less energy than building new ones.
General Construction
- Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, which is composed of less oil and more water, is used whenever possible.
- Recycled construction materials are used whenever possible.
- Building materials that do not create off-gassing are used whenever possible.
- Locally or regionally manufactured materials are used whenever possible.
Did you know...?
Plastic package wrapping can be recycled with plastic bags in the receptacles by the Mail Room and near the vending machines in RRB. And, Glasswashing Services recycles pipette tip boxes.
