The building design aims to use natural resources without waste, protect occupant health and improve employee productivity, and reduce pollution and environmental degradation.
Much of the concrete and asphalt that remained on the site of the building site of NSLS-II was recycled and formed the stone base for the parking lots around the ring building. In those lots, preferential parking is provided for energy-efficient vehicles.
In anticipation of more widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles in the future, the design team provided the conduit under the ground from the building to the parking areas to enable future charging station installation.
Most of the steel in the ring building is recycled and much of the concrete uses recycled fly ash. Low-flow water fixtures in bathrooms, good insulation, and automatic lighting controls are incorporated into the building’s workspaces.
The building’s indoor air quality is improved by using materials for office spaces that do not emit noxious fumes. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are designed for maximum economy, and a monitoring system throughout the building allows for adjustments to be made based on real-time feedback. The design and engineering teams worked with the Photon Sciences Accelerator Division at Brookhaven to design a cooling system to operate at a slightly higher temperature than usual.
The NSLS-II facility was designed by HDR Architecture.
