This building includes teaching laboratories for science and engineering, art studios, faculty offices, and a large auditorium, to accommodate the schools of engineering, architecture, art, and humanities and science.

The building includes a number of innovative features, such as an atrium that extends between all floors to provide a sense of open space and ample natural light, and a highly advanced multi-layer exterior cladding. The skin is designed to control interior lighting levels, temperature, and natural ventilation through the use of ground-breaking technology, which opens and closes various apertures on the building to maximize energy efficiency.

Size:     
183,000 square feet

Construction Cost:  
$75 million

Status:  
Completed in 2009

LEED Level:   
Platinum

Davis Langdon assisted the design team by managing the LEED process and provided workshop facilitation, LEED project management, design reviews, technical support, fundraising support, and construction administration support.

The New Academic Building initially targeted LEED Silver Certification.

Through a careful and detailed analysis of both design and cost drivers, Davis Langdon created a road map to Platinum certification. The Cooper Union was able to incorporate initiatives to raise the level of sustainability for the project and meet these goals within an acceptable budget.

Davis Langdon developed a full carbon model of the Cooper Union design as well as provided cost management services throughout design.