Capturing the spirit of a department that pushes the limits of technological innovation, SmithGroup’s ECE design also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability. Displacement and demand-controlled ventilation, heat-recovery chillers and chilled-beam technology help bring energy use to 46% below ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standards, an exceptional achievement considering the energy-intensive nature of a lab facility with an instructional clean room. In fact, the design targets LEED Platinum certification, and may even achieve an EPA EnergyStar rating of 99 out of 100. But most importantly, ECE is programmed as a place where curiosity is celebrated and intellectual collisions occur naturally. Traffic flow and sightlines are carefully designed to foster collaboration, and interdisciplinary learning and cooperation.