(SEAS) Computing and Information Technology (IT) Office renovation recently achieved LEED Gold Certification under the LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) version 2.0 rating system, making it the first LEED certified project at SEAS and setting a high standard of sustainability for all future projects carried out at the School.
As Harvard’s 38th LEED certified project, this achievement strengthens the University-wide goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2006 levels by 2016, inclusive of growth, and is the result of the project team’s commitment to sustainability from the onset of the project.
The SEAS IT Office supports the School’s research, administrative and teaching communities by installing and maintaining effective technology through the provision of numerous measures, such as: stable computing infrastructure and support for teaching, learning and research; maintaining operational efficiency; managing communication and messaging; and managing fiscal controls and appropriate resource allocations.
The renovation converted 2,003 square feet of lounge space into offices to accommodate the IT staff and services. The offices are on the ground and second floors of the 97,500 square foot Maxwell Dworkin building at 33 Oxford Street in Cambridge, MA. Completed in March 2009, the main program elements included five private offices and three open office areas divided between three locations (G107, G121 and 211). The scope of the renovation included new furnishings, lighting, windows, millwork, electrical, tel-data, and audio visual (AV) systems. Harvard’s Green Building Guidelines (now the Harvard Green Building Standards) and the LEED-CI rating system played an important role by guiding the selection of more sustainable materials and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems.
56% of the total material, by cost, consisted of products manufactured within 500 miles of the project site, while 28% contains either post-consumer or pre-consumer recycled content, by cost.
Through the selection and strategic placement of energy efficient and low mercury fluorescent lamps, the overall lighting power density shows a 15% reduction below code.
84% of the construction and demolition waste was diverted from landfills.
100% of composite wood is urea formaldehyde free.
Successfully incorporating sustainability into the project design and construction is the result of a dedicated project team, the decision to pursue LEED certification prior to initial design efforts and the early involvement of consultants from Harvard’s Green Building Services (GBS). GBS provides sustainability consulting services to Harvard Schools and Units to support their efforts in designing, building, and operating their buildings more sustainably.
For more information on the project and its sustainability features, a case study is located on the Harvard University Office for Sustainability’s Green Building Resource.
For more information on sustainability at SEAS: https://intranet.seas.harvard.edu/audience/sustainability
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first LEED certification at SEAS...
