Mon Mar 25, 02024, 10:00PM UTC
Sam Moller
Building the Long Now: Exploring BU's LEED Platinum Computing Center
Join us to explore Boston's most sustainable and innovative high-rise: come tour BU's LEED Platinum Computing Center on March 25.
Most of us have marveled at the staggered "Jenga"-like structure that popped up on the Charles River skyline a few years ago. This breathtaking architectural profile houses Boston University's 19-story Center for Computing and Data Sciences—"a vertical campus designed for collaboration," Boston's largest green building and one of the world's most striking LEED Platinum buildings.
On March 25, twenty-five Long Now Boston guests enjoyed a private tour led by BU's Director of Sustainability Dennis Carlberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Intimately involved in the concept, design and construction from the outset, Dennis offered us a backstage glimpse of the entire process, from the earliest aspirations to have a building that actually teaches sustainability while practicing it, through the tunneling of 31 closed-loop geothermal wells to a depth of 1,500 feet (more than twice the height of the John Hancock Tower), to the creation of dazzling social spaces.
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You can get more out of your site elements by making them dynamic. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Once connected, you can save time by updating your content straight from your collection—no need to open the Editor, or mess with your design.
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You can get more out of your site elements by making them dynamic. To connect this element to content from your collection, select the element and click Connect to Data. Once connected, you can save time by updating your content straight from your collection—no need to open the Editor, or mess with your design.
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Most of us have marveled at the staggered "Jenga"-like structure that popped up on the Charles River skyline a few years ago. This breathtaking architectural profile houses Boston University's 19-story Center for Computing and Data Sciences—"a vertical campus designed for collaboration," Boston's largest green building and one of the world's most striking LEED Platinum buildings.
On March 25, twenty-five Long Now Boston guests enjoyed a private tour led by BU's Director of Sustainability Dennis Carlberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Intimately involved in the concept, design and construction from the outset, Dennis offered us a backstage glimpse of the entire process, from the earliest aspirations to have a building that actually teaches sustainability while practicing it, through the tunneling of 31 closed-loop geothermal wells to a depth of 1,500 feet (more than twice the height of the John Hancock Tower), to the creation of dazzling social spaces.
After a little exploration at the interactive Sustainability Wall (open to anyone, offering an overview of the scores of functional green systems within the architecture), we ducked through passages, climbed and dodged our way into the guts of the beast, which are ironically lodged in its "head" on its top two floors. Ropes hung, chains swung, gears turned and handy windows into the machinery allowed us to see it all. The building manages to self-supply 90% of its energy needs from the water-ferried geothermal transfers (on extra-hot or extra-cold days "peak systems" including electric centrifugal chillers kick in). Conservation mechanisms like triple-glazing on the glass walls, efficient fresh air systems, solar arrays on other university buildings, and exterior design elements that provide shade at various times of day illustrate the can-do spirit with which today's students must confront our changing climate. Indeed, the entire facility is "gamified" to score each floor for accurate waste sorting, with student interns photographing and reporting contents of garbage containers hourly! The leaderboard in the lobby keeps it consciously competitive.
Our heads were spinning with images, numbers, and ideas after the tour, so we repaired to nearby Cornwall's Pub for drinks, food, camaraderie, and, what else... projections about what will come NEXT in buildings of the future.