Law School Learning Center Addition

Law students sit on couches and at tables inside the Law Learning Center.Law School Learning Center Addition

LEED Certified Platinum

By tucking the building underground, we have preserved open space and the historic character of the existing Myron Taylor Hall. In addition, we are standing on a vegetated green roof which improves stormwater management and provides thermal benefits that improve energy efficiency in the building.

On the LEED-certified scorecard, the Law School Learning Center Addition scored 83 out of 110 possible points. For a full breakdown, review the report on the US Green Buildings Certification (USGBC) website.

Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Innovation & Design Regional Priority
Points Earned 21 / 26 8 / 10 25 / 35 6 / 14 13 / 15 6 / 6 4 / 4

Project Highlights

Rainfall and snowmelt are collected at the site and are infiltrated back into the soil using underground filtration chambers.

The courtyard of the Law School with a view of the green roof on the Learning Center.
With a vegetated green roof and other energy efficiencies, the newly constructed addition to the Cornell Law School’s Myron Taylor Hall has been certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council. (David Lamb)

The building energy use and equipment performance has been fully commissioned and will be constantly revisited by University Energy and Sustainability department staff who seek to maximize performance and cut energy use at the University. This benefits both the planet and ensures our maximum return on the investment we make in efficiency in our buildings.

Contractors strove to recycle and reuse waste materials during project construction and managed to divert over 90% of the waste materials from being landfilled!

CO2 sensors installed in the teaching areas sense when the room is occupied and automatically respond to provide fresh air when needed, and save energy when the room is unoccupied.


LEED®, and its related logo, is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council® and is used with permission.