The Earth Institute Center for Environmental Sustainability, formerly known as CERC, is a leading provider of environmental research, education, and training. Constructed in 1994, this central, light-filled facility has become a mainstay on the Morningside campus of Columbia University. A cutting-edge space of offices, laboratories, libraries, and rooftop greenhouses, the three-level, 18,000 square-foot center was featured on the cover of Interior Design magazine in 1997.
Originally a double-loaded plan, we opened up the center spine of the space to maximize daylight circulation for a communal area that doubles as a lounge and meeting space. In expanding the facility, we implemented low environmental impact materials as part of our design, allowing for an electric lighting load of 1.3-watt per-square-foot. The result is a comfortable, uplifting workspace that strongly emphasizes responsibility and sustainability.
This project was a joint venture between both of our predecessor firms, Stein, White Architects and Bibliowicz, Nelligan, Kriegel Architects.
