Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis are probably some of, if not the best, architects working in the world today. Constantly pushing boundaries on both aesthetic and sustainable fronts, they never shy away from redefining what a building should look like and how it should function. The newly completed Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York is certainly no exception.
Aside from the stunningly different topography and shape of the facade, the building was designed to engage the public from both the outside and inside of the building. The transparent facade allows people on the outside to view activity happening inside the building, while window protrusions and unique viewpoints allow occupants to have clear unobstructed views of the outside.
Aside from the aesthetics of the design, the building itself is built to LEED Gold standards, but is expected to receive a platinum rating. Some of it’s more sustainable features include:
- An operable building skin made of perforated stainless steel panels offset from a glass and aluminum window wall. The panels reduce the impact of heat radiation during the summer and insulate interior spaces during the winter.
- Radiant heating and cooling ceiling panels introduce innovative HVAC technology that will boost energy efficiency. This contributes to making the new building 40 percent more energy efficient than a standard building of its type.
- A full-height atrium enables unique circulation for building occupants, improves the flow of air and provides increased interior day lighting.
- Seventy-five percent of the building’s regularly occupied spaces are lit by natural daylight.
- A green roof insulates the building, reduces city “heat island” effect, storm water runoff and pollutants; harvested water is reused.
- A cogeneration plant provides additional power to the building, recovers waste heat and effectively cuts energy costs.
- Flexible state-of-the-art laboratories, studios and classrooms are specifically designed to accommodate pedagogical objectives, as well as current and future research activities.
photos by Iwan Baan courtesy of ArchDaily
The Good: A uniquely designed building that engages the public while reducing its environmental impact.
The Bad: Constructed using a lot of high embodied-energy materials. Of course it could always be even more sustainable.
The Bottom-Line: When it comes to balancing function and form, Morphosis is ahead of the pack.
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