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Talks
Scheduled on Sustainability and the New Engineering and Molecular
Sciences Building
A daylong collegewide series
of events on Thursday, October 28, culminating in an evening
forum, will extensively explore the environmental sustainability
of Smith’s proposed new building for engineering and
molecular sciences, scheduled for construction beginning in
2006. The series will culminate in a community forum in the
evening, with comments by President Carol T. Christ and a
panel of professionals involved in the building’s design
and sustainability.
The 136,000-square-foot engineering and molecular sciences
building is being designed by the architectural firm Bohlin
Cywinski Jackson. An important dimension of the building will
be its innovative design, which will promote energy efficiency
using renewable resources for construction and relying on
natural elements for climate control. In addition to providing
ample lab and classroom space, the building itself is intended
to serve as a teaching tool through its sustainable construction.
The building’s sustainability initiatives will include
green roofs, porous pavement, vegetated swales, use of shading
for natural temperature control, and environmentally responsible
mechanical systems. Ford Motor Company has made a generous
leadership gift of $10 million in support of the project.
Details of the building’s sustainability will be discussed
throughout the day. The series schedule is as follows:
Brown bag lunch with students and panelists
from the evening forum, including a discussion on sustainability
and the greening of campus, from the college landscape architect,
and architects and mechanical engineers for the new science
buildings. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and
voice concerns. Lunch provided. Sponsors: Office of the President;
College Sustainability and Operations committees.
Building architects and others will attend
classes to discuss sustainable design issues.
Building architects, mechanical design engineers and
sustainability specialists from Carnegie Mellon will
meet with faculty members regarding possible demonstration
projects in the building and using the building itself as
a teaching tool for sustainability studies.
Community forum to discuss the new building,
with comments by President Carol T. Christ. Forum panelists
will include Natalie Gentile, architect with Bohlin Cywinski
Jackson; Don Russell, Environmental Quality Office, Ford Motor
Company; Vivian Loftness, sustainability consultant for Carnegie
Mellon University; Dave Madigan, mechanical engineer with
vanZelm, Hayward and Shadford Incorporated; and Robert J.
Golde, landscape architect with the firm Towers/Golde. Each
participant will give a presentation, followed by a question-and-answer
period. The forum will be moderated by Donald Baumer, professor
of government and chair of the college’s Sustainability
Committee. Sponsored by the building’s Sustainability
and Operations committees.
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