Alice H. Cook House

LEED Certified

The Alice H. Cook House is the first residence hall in New York State to receive LEED® certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, and the first achieved by a university. All future residential construction to take place on Cornell campus will utilize the same green standards and principles that went into the construction of the Alice H. Cook House.

On the LEED-certified scorecard, Alice H. Cook House scored 26 out of 69 possible points. For a full breakdown, review the report on the US Green Buildings Certification (USGBC) website.

Project Highlights

• 50% of all waste generated by demolishing the old dormitory was diverted from the landfill
• Recycled steel, locally manufactured carpet, tile, and doors, and wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council were used in the construction of the Cook House
• Campus Life's unique Green Housekeeping program promotes effective use of less toxic chemicals by the building care professionals
• Native plants were used in landscaping, eliminating the need for routine irrigation and restoring native habitats
• Building materials, components, sealants, adhesives, paints, and carpets were chosen which had very low levels of volatile compounds, formaldehyde, and similar air contaminants, sparing factory workers, wholesalers, construction crews, and future tenants from the effects of these potentially-harmful materials
• Plants and grasses are grown on the roof to maximize space, provide insulation, reduce water run-off, and reduce renovation costs by protecting the building from the effects of weather
• Indoor bike storage was provided to encourage alternatives to road-jamming automobile transport and the Cook House is located within ¼ mile of two bus stops, each servicing two bus lines
• Stormwater runoff reduced from prior conditions 9-15%

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