We are pleased to present this book which showcases ... - WSP Group

“WSP’s work was essential in getting this project off
the ground.Their vision and leadership led directly to
our key funding and to the most innovative elements
of the design.”
Peter Bardaglio,
Provost and Chief Academic Officer,
Ithaca College
Client:
Ithaca College
Project value:
£8M
WSP services:
Environmental consultancy
Flack + Kurk: Building services
WSP has worked closely with the School of Business at Ithaca
College in New York state to develop a concept for a new building
which will reflect and support the school’s mission to incorporate
sustainable thinking into every aspect of its curriculum.
On learning that Ithaca College intended to build a new home for
its School of Business,WSP recommended that the building should
incorporate sustainable design principles in order to exemplify the
school’s commitment to sustainable development.
The college commissioned WSP to develop a design brief that would
break the mould of sustainably designed buildings and create a new
global benchmark for higher educational facilities. In physical terms,
it would aim to meet the highest level of LEED (Leadership in Energy
& Environmental Design) standards of the US Green Building Council.
The building would have lower operating and maintenance costs,
produce much of its own energy and minimise the use of water
and other natural resources.
It would also offer practical teaching opportunities and serve as
a living laboratory for twelve cardinal sustainability principles:
■ Ethics
■ Diversity
■ Cultural awareness and preservation
■ Ecological balance
■ Life cycle thinking
■ Long term financial management
■ Knowledge sharing and relationship building
■ Personal fulfilment at work
■ Life-long learning
■ Community engagement
■ Capacity building
■ Changing unsustainable patterns of production and consumption
This framework formed part of a brief for architects in a competition
to design the new Business School.WSP not only developed the
sustainability criteria in the preparation of the design brief for the
competition but also advised on the selection of the firm of
Robert A M Stern Architects to design the new School of Business.
Construction is due to start in 2006 with occupancy by the autumn
of 2008.
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