Physical Sciences Building

The glass facade of the Physical Sciences Building lit up in the evening.
Full windows allow an abundance of natural light in during the day, and efficient lighting keeps energy use low during the night. 

Physical Sciences Building

LEED Certified Gold

The Physical Sciences Building is one of the most energy-efficient on Campus. Laboratory designers focused on ‘right-sizing’ all equipment for the PSB building, resulting in very low projected energy usage.

On the LEED-certified scorecard, Physical Sciences Building scored 47 out of 69 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 Accredited Professional
Points Earned 10 / 14 4 / 5 11 / 17 5 / 13 11 / 15 4 / 4 1 / 1

Project Highlights

The building is equipped with sensors that increase or decrease ventilation based on whether the space is occupied. Air from office spaces is also reused in lab spaces, as this air has been preheated or cooled. Finally, before being exhausted outdoors, a heat recovery system recaptures a portion of the heat energy, which is then used to temper the incoming fresh air.

The Physical Sciences atrium and interior bridge connecting the new building to adjacent Rockefeller building.
The atrium of Physical Sciences building was built connecting to an older adjacent building, reducing heat loss of Rockefeller Hall.

Other efficiency measures include a white roofing system, light-colored paving to reduce heat gain in the building and a rainwater capture system for irrigation in the Rockefeller terrace plantings. In addition, the project site is an infill location: It shares walls with two existing buildings, improving thermal performance of both the older buildings by reducing exterior walls that can lose heat.

Check Out the Physical Sciences Building

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