The Simmons’ School of Management by Cannon Design in Boston, United States, provided the opportunity to convert a former barren parking lot into a student-centered place for thriving campus life. Specifically, the project included the design of a 66,500 sq ft academic center and creation of a new green space, the Simmons Quadrangle, which was the former parking lot. The design now conceals the 700-car parking in a five-level subterranean garage. The project has been included in Simmons’ curricula in environmental science and ethics/philosophy further enhancing the sustainable mindset at the college. Simmons’ School of Management (SOM) is the nation’s first business school designed specifically for women. A leading center for innovative teaching, research and discourse on women, leadership and management, the SOM offers a demanding management education to women pursuing undergraduate and master’s degrees.

The Building is oriented to capitalize on natural light and views with 90% of the indoor space receiving natural daylight. The design also includes a partially vegetated roof and a high-albedo, low-emissivity roof to mitigate storm water runoff and heat-island effect. Recycled steel buildings, carpet and ceiling tiles are also used throughout and 90% of construction waste was recycled. Furniture and finishes incorporate sustainable materials and manufacturing practices. Bamboo, a rapidly renewable material is used extensively in millwork, office desk surfaces and in the lobby. High-efficiency lighting and control systems reduce energy expenditures and incorporate telephone, data and fire-alarm systems, fully interfacing with existing campus networks. The building’s wall envelope is superior to the most current air-barrier strategies and should surpass standard performance by 25%.

Simmons’ School of Management has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. “I believe the School of Management and Academic Building has been transformational for Simmons College. Not only did it provide a wonderful new campus with an innovative roof approach, but it also supports the college’s aspiration to be a leader in the field of sustainable business education and in practice. Achieving LEED™ Gold certification was truly a team effort and we are all thrilled to be part of the process and the outcome.” said Lynne Deninger, project leader and associate principal for Cannon Design.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 7:02 pm and is filed under Architecture Design, Green Design. Tags: Academic Building, Boston, Building engineering, campus networks, control systems, Education building, energy expenditures, Environment of the United States, Environmentalism, fire-alarm systems, Green building, leader and associate principal for Cannon Design, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Low-energy building, Lynne Deninger, project leader and associate principal, School of Management, Simmons Bedding Company, Simmons College, steel buildings, Sustainable building, U.S. Green Building Council, United States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.