RIT Unveils First ‘Green’ Building During April 18 Ceremony

Rochester Institute of Technology has opened its first ‘green’ building, as part of its ongoing sustainability efforts. The new College of Applied Science and Technology Building was designed to meet the standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council, the most widely accepted rating system for evaluating sustainable, high-performance buildings.

The building, which is currently undergoing evaluation to obtain its LEED certification, will be officially dedicated during a Friday, April 18, ceremony. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing Auditorium with a number of speakers, including remarks by RIT President Bill Destler, representatives of the New York State Legislature and foundation and corporate sponsors of the facility. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the east entrance of the College of Applied Science and Technology Building (south of parking lot J) at 3 p.m.

The building features controls that monitor building occupancy and reduce power demands accordingly. The improved systems provide an approximate 21.4 percent savings in electrical energy (estimated annual savings at over $24,000), which is comparable to the power necessary to service approximately 47 New York state homes.

It also includes two 1,500-gallon cisterns that were installed to collect rainwater from the roof to flush toilets in the restrooms. Rainwater is also used to irrigate some unusual plantings in the main lobby, where a vertically landscaped wall improves air quality.

The College of Applied Science and Technology Building features the William G. McGowan Center for Telecommunications, Innovation and Collaborative Research, the William G. McGowan Student Commons, the REDCOM Telecommunications Systems Laboratory and Lecture Facility, the American Packaging Corporation Center for Packaging Innovation and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Center.

The building is also home to the college’s Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety and Department of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering Technology.

In addition to RIT funds, funding for the $10.5 million, 33,600-square-foot facility came from the following individuals and organizations: William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, New York State Higher Education Capital Facilities Program, REDCOM Laboratories, Inc., American Packaging Corp., Rock-Tenn Co., Eastman Kodak Co., Joseph Clayton, One Communications, Melles Griot, Mitel, Inc., Fibertech Networks, LLC, O’Connell Electric and Green Living Technologies, LLC.