RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) Sustainability Hall serves as a center and “Living Lab” for sustainability research, technology transfer, education and outreach and provides a state-of-the-art showcase for green construction and design. GIS supports cutting-edge research in nanotechnology, alternative energy development, and pollution prevention. SWBR, in collaboration with FXFOWLE, developed the facility’s “Living Lab” concept.
A network of high-tech classrooms and labs, offices, support and collaborative spaces accommodate the Hall’s academic and research programs. Its passive design strategies, energy-efficient systems and high-performance facades make the building 56% more efficient than a baseline building, and helped reduce its carbon footprint by 61%, earning it LEED Platinum certification. Data sensors, control systems, feedback loops and microgrid technology are incorporated so RIT can monitor and inform building operations, making it one of the most informative green buildings in the world.
The award-winning GIS Sustainability Hall is extraordinary. “The facility enables RIT to be a world-class hub for sustainability research and education,” said retired President Bill Destler. “A leader in innovation and technologies, and a key partner with the community, government and industry.”