Princeton University
OP-4: Building Design and Construction

Princeton has pursued two LEED certifications: The High-Performance Computing Research Center was certified as LEED Gold. The 701 Carnegie Building was certified as LEED Gold. Additionally, many University buildings were constructed to be LEED equivalent, although they are not certified. A sampling of these buildings include: Andlinger Center for Energy of the Environment – LEED Silver Equivalent Lakeside Graduate Housing – LEED Silver Equivalent Frick Chemistry Building – LEED Silver Equivalent

Princeton University Facilities Department Design Standards Manual ensures that every new construction and major renovation achieves campus sustainability goals including significant energy cost reduction versus comparable off-campus buildings. These standards require Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) of major building systems, as well as consideration of the building's educational and research potential in sustainability problem solving. Princeton University Facilities Department has a series of campus initiatives, polices, guidelines and practices through which its buildings are designed and constructed. They include: 1) Impacts on the Surrounding Site • One of the University’s Guiding Principles for Future Expansion, as articulated by the Administration in 2003, is to “build in an environmentally responsible manner - a manner which is sensitive to geography, sensitive to energy and resource consumption and works to sustain strong community relations.” As such, the University is also mindful of the local and migratory bird populations by encouraging design strategies that promote bird safe building design. [See Section 1.2 in the Facilities Department Design Standards] • As described in the new Campus Plan, the University will set priorities for protecting, restoring, and enhancing the wetlands, streams, and habitats of the campus, particularly around Lake Carnegie. The planning framework provides guidance on development around these areas. Proposed strategies include protecting the University’s highest quality habitat areas, enhancing their connectivity to adjacent habitats along Lake Carnegie and stream corridors, and restoring the health of habitat areas where exotic and invasive species are predominant. 2) Energy Consumption and Metering, Water Consumption, Life Cycle Guidelines • In addition, new construction and major renovation projects will benchmark against a LEED silver rating. The University will determine if formal project certification will be sought [Section 3.3. in Facilities Department Design Standards] • See Sustainable Energy Initiatives and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies: https://facilities.princeton.edu/sustainable-campus/sustainable-energy 3) Indoor Environmental Quality • https://ehs.princeton.edu/ • https://ehs.princeton.edu/environmental-programs/indoor-air-quality

Princeton University employs a dynamic design and review process between its outside consultants and internal technical teams. The Facilities Design Standards Manual (through which the design teams are contracted to comply) prescribes a series of review meetings with internal and external team members to review the project status and ensure compliance with the standards and integrative design process. There is also a sustainability charrette early on in the process which is followed up by a series of LCC, envelope and energy model workshops.

Additional Links: Design Standards Manual: https://facilities.princeton.edu/sites/facilities/files/DSM.pdf Campus Plan: https://campusplan.princeton.edu/ Eligible Buildings: • Lakeside Graduate Housing 573,306 SF • Neuroscience & Psychology 258,566 SF • Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment 147,181 SF • Storage 20,789 SF • Economics & International Building 223,422 SF • Childcare 21,901 SF • Lewis Center for the Arts 174,146 SF