Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center, Dartmouth College

The Class of 1978 Life Sciences Center is designed to meet Dartmouth College’s stringent energy standards. Through an integrated sustainable design process, the building has achieved an annual energy intensity of 97 kBtu/sq ft compared to that of a conventional lab building of 199 kBtu/sq ft per year.

For the lighting system, Atelier Ten designed a fully daylight- and occupancy-responsive system that provides visually comfortable but highly efficient lighting in the gathering and research spaces. Linear luminaires playfully scattered through the main circulation corridor highlight the interior wall to balance the generous daylight.

Atelier Ten established a rigorous and efficient working process with the team for testing and recommending effective, high-performance strategies to meet the project’s targets and goals. Those strategies include naturally ventilating non-lab spaces, applying an ultra-low energy lighting design, and incorporating a native landscape design which filters, infiltrates and captures stormwater. Atelier Ten also evaluated innovative measures to guide the team’s design including displacement ventilation, chilled beams, condensor water heat recovery, winter bypass, and auto-insulation for the rooftop greenhouse.