Rutgers Engineering Hall Receives LEED Gold

By SCN Staff

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—Completed in August 2018, the Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering at Rutgers University on the Busch campus, has recently received LEED™ Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The 106,000-square-foot, four-story facility offers a state-of-the-art learning and research spaces designed to bring students, faculty and industry together to pursue new solutions and technologies in the areas of sustainability, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

“This building demonstrates the University’s commitment to sustainability and will serve as a benchmark for future projects. The School of Engineering has a modern facility that promotes the building as a working lab, actively engaging students in discovering innovative solutions that will transform the field of engineering and manufacturing on a local and global scale,” says Gregg Bergmiller, LEED AP, a sustainability coordinator of The S/L/A/M Collaborative.

This recognition acknowledges the many sustainable design features that are incorporated into Weeks Hall’s innovative learning environment, including: Energy cost savings of 29% through solar orientation and superior envelop design; Mechanical systems include active chilled beams, ventilation with 100% outdoor air with energy recovery wheel and demand control by occupancy and carbon dioxide sensors; Energy efficient LED lighting with automatic lighting control utilizing daylight photo and occupancy sensors; A 38% reduction of potable water use; The diversion of 97% of construction waste from landfills.

Weeks Hall of Engineering is an open and flexible facility that features flexible learning laboratories for advanced manufacturing and sustainable resources and systems. The students have hands-on access to facilities dedicated to rapid prototyping, pilot manufacturing, urban and coastal water systems, intelligent transportation systems, and more. The building includes three smart classrooms, collaborative workspace, dedicated student space, and advanced technology integration.

The New Jersey Advanced Manufacturing Institute (NJAMI), established by Rutgers, also has dedicated space in the facility to distinguish and elevate the state’s historic manufacturing profile. Students have the resources to develop and test innovative devices in areas of information technology, renewable energy, sensing devices, and health life sciences.

The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) is a national, fully integrated, multi-disciplinary architecture firm offering architecture, planning, interior design, landscape architecture and site planning, structural engineering and construction services that focuses on higher education, K-12 public/private education, healthcare and corporate market, athletic and recreation sectors.