Atelier Ten provided full environmental design and architectural lighting design services for two new dormitory buildings at Colgate University to design a healthy living and learning environment that aligns with the university’s sustainability targets.
Atelier Ten advised the design and benchmarking of the new residence halls from the preliminary schematic stages to construction. Design strategies for the building envelope were implemented to ensure low infiltration and ultra-insulation for maximum energy savings. Atelier Ten investigated detailed envelope construction options for walls, roof, and windows to optimize the façade to mitigate against heat loss in this cold climate.
In addition to the envelope, Atelier Ten recommended water conservation strategies, an efficient lighting system design, and evaluated a variety of high-performance HVAC system alternatives to meet the building’s environmental performance goals. With the University’s aspiration for passive house design, our team conducted various feasibility and natural ventilation studies on the building, exploring a wide range of options for energy savings.
Echoing Colgate’s mission to nurture the integration of academic excellence and student communities, the lighting design for the New Residence Hall at Colgate University will balance programmatic requirements with architectural and energy goals to provide a high quality visual environment. Lighting will weave throughout the architecture, layering illumination to establish a visual hierarchy and enable the adjustment of lighting to meet various living, studying, and congregating needs.
