Weill Cornell Medical College Belfer Research Building opens

The LEED Gold targeted Belfer Research Building has opened on Friday, January 31. The 18-story, 480,000sf building, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, is housing research centers targeting some of the most formidable health challenges, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, children’s health, global health and infectious diseases.

In collaboration with Ennead Architects, Atelier Ten provided environmental design consulting, energy analysis, LEED program administration, and CFD modeling services.

Atelier Ten played a critical role in tuning the façade and mechanical systems to create comfortable and inspiring workspaces. The building design maximizes natural light and effective space planning to enhance quality of life within the building. As an example, research offices face south to access sun and views while labs face north to take advantage of diffuse natural light, which is ideal for the open work environment. Additionally, Atelier Ten conducted façade studies to assess qualitative and quantitative advantages of multiple proposed shading schemes. The realized façade is an innovative double skin façade that provides shading to regulate direct sun and visual comfort while maintaining thermal comfort. Atelier Ten also suggested and validated options to improve efficiency through measures including the reduction of minimum air change rates, heat recovery chillers, and minimizing the ventilation system’s static pressure.

Atelier Ten’s team from the New York office includes Director Paul Stoller, Associate Director Ben Shepherd, and Senior Environmental Designers, Bret Mantyk and Leanora Paniccia.

Read press release from the Weill Cornell Newsroom and featured article in A/N Blog – The Architect’s Newspaper.

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