New York, New York
Columbia University brought in Helpern Architects to convert the early 20th-century Collegiate Gothic-style building from a faculty residence into 50,000 square feet of seminar rooms and faculty offices. Columbia’s mandate to preserve the exterior and historical elements of the building equalled its commitment to environmental leadership, spurred by the green mandate of PlaNYC. Helpern Architects designed four 1,800-ft.-deep geothermal wells that descend through Manhattan schist and draw water to heat or cool the building, depending on the season. This is the first use of geothermal energy in a Manhattan institution of higher education, and its payback is projected to be a remarkable six years. Knox Hall achieved LEED Gold status from the US Green Building Council.
