Green Building at Barnard

Barnard is committed to maintaining a healthy campus for its students, faculty, administrators, and guests, and one that is environmentally responsible. As such, the Diana Center incorporates several “green,” or sustainable, features.

The Diana Center's Distinct Shade of Green

The Diana Center will be LEED-Silver

Green Roof
An occupiable planted green roof helps extend the life of the roofing membrane, provide energy savings, and creates valuable public green space.

Additional Landscaping
The existing paved plaza between Altschul and McIntosh has been replaced with landscaped terraces. The terraces expand college green spaces for relaxation and recreation, and mitigate the rise in grade from Milbank to Barnard Hall.

Plumbing systems
Low flow faucets and other low use fixtures increase water use efficiency.

Lighting Systems
Daylight dimming systems maintain the interior light levels according to exterior conditions. The interior light fixtures use high efficiency compact fluorescent bulbs. Occupancy sensors and a building time clock for lighting circuits keep artificial light at minimal use.

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system
The building uses a high efficiency condensing boiler that uses an additional heat exchanger to recapture energy that would otherwise be lost. A high efficiency chiller plant and air handlers provide further energy conservation.

Efficient, comfortable radiant flooring heats all public spaces. Evenly distributed heat from a radiant floor heating system allows the thermostat to be set at a lower level than in a forced air heating system, reducing energy costs by 10 to 40 percent.

Curtain Wall
The exterior enclosure combines insulated low-e (low emissivity) frit glass, thermally improved mullions, and insulated metal panels which exceed city and state energy codes. Low-e glass has an ultra-thin metallic coating on or in the glass that reflects heat back to its source. In the summer, the glass prevents external heat from being absorbed into the building. On colder days, the glass helps retain heat.

Natural light
Building geometry, varying levels of transparency/opacity throughout the curtain wall system, and skylights on the roof and at the plaza level bring daylight into the building and allow sweeping views of the outdoors.

Natural ventilation
Operable window lights allow for natural ventilation in the classrooms and offices.

Shading
Public double height spaces have an automated motorized shading system tied to photo sensors that adjust to exterior daylight conditions.

Structure & Materials
The superstructure is steel and concrete, both of which are made of partially recycled content or recyclable materials.

Much of the former McIntosh structural enclosure was reused as structure and foundation walls for the Diana Center. The exterior aluminum and glass curtain wall is composed of partially recycled materials which are also completely recyclable.

Roofing
High-emittance waterproofing reduces heat absorbed by the roof, decreasing the demand for electric power, especially air-conditioning throughout the summer.

Waterproofing
Waterproofing contains no volatile organic compounds (VOC). VOC react to sunlight and heat to form ground-level ozone.

Construction Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan
Careful construction and waste management practices employed by contractors during the building process minimize the potential for indoor air quality problems and protect workers on the site from undue health risks.

Interior Materials
Regional materials and low emission adhesives and coatings are used whenever possible.

Most interior finishings, such as countertops, tabletops, ceramic tiles, carpeting, and rubber stair treads are made from recycled and/or fully recyclable material.

Materials have no or low formaldehyde content.

Low-VOC paint is used.

The polished concrete flooring is made of partial recycled content.

These green building choices make Diana Center a LEED-Silver building