EYP’s Union College Peter Irving Wold Science Center project, in Schenectady, has achieved a LEED Gold Certification – “a testament to the great things we can accomplish together,” said EYP’s Project Manager David Clemenzi.

The $22 million, 35,000-square-foot research center for interdisciplinary studies houses four floors of science and engineering labs where studies and research on everything from biochemistry to acoustics to energy use take place. The project began in 2009 and opened in May 2011. EYP’s contractor partner was A.J. Martini of Boston.

“The building,” David said, “is truly a state of the art learning machine that both reaches out to the future with its engineering systems and sustainable features and connects back to the historic fabric of the original campus master plan in a very sympathetic way.”

“Union was an exciting client to work with through the LEED process because they put learning and the academic mission of the college first,” said Albany Architect Sara Stein. “In early meetings, we discussed payback of various sustainable efforts, and often times were told that their first priority is providing learning opportunities for their students. We worked with faculty and facilities members to find balances, to go beyond just checking points of a LEED list, and worked to tell a complete sustainable story for the addition to their campus.”

In fact, EYP helped Union create a sustainable website to help further educate students and faculty about their new green building. Visit that site here.

The project has many highlights but an especially intriguing sustainability element is the rooftop lab, which is linked to an energy research lab on the first floor. “The rooftop lab is used for faculty and student research on renewable energy,” Sara explained. “Students have the opportunity to design prototypes of systems, and link them to continuous monitoring to watch performance in outdoor, real conditions. There is a monitor set up in the lobby, which is tied to the building systems, teaching the occupants of the building, and contributing towards ‘Building as an Educational Tool’ for LEED.”

“Everyone involved should be proud of the great success of this project.” said David. “The actual LEED Gold certification is merely icing on the cake.”

And a great icing it is! Congratulations to all involved.