New Haven, CT – The US Green Building Council has awarded LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification to Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven in recognition of the hospital’s successful sustainable design and construction strategies.
“When planning for Smilow began in 2002, sustainable strategies, including LEED© certification, were not easily attainable in healthcare facilities because of their high energy demands and other constraints,” said Marna P. Borgstrom, president and CEO, Yale-New Haven Hospital. “We are very pleased with this recognition knowing that Smilow Cancer Hospital is the largest healthcare facility in Connecticut to receive LEED certification.”
Designed by Shepley Bulfinch and completed in 2010, Smilow’s sustainable features include optimum circulation of natural light in its lobbies, corridors and waiting areas; use of occupancy sensors in non-patient spaces; pumps with variable speed drives and room pressure monitors to reduce power usage for enhanced air supply. In addition, reflective roofs, an exterior sun screen on the west façade, a high-efficiency unitized curtain wall system and a terra cotta rain screen all work to reduce heat gain in the building. The facility also has upgraded air handling units which provide improved indoor air quality, low-flow water fixtures, low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes, easy-to-clean solid surface finishes and epoxy paints in operating rooms to combat infections effectively.
“In addition construction crews were able to recycle 97.7% of construction waste while building Smilow,” added Borgstrom.
With 516,000 square feet, Smilow has 14 floors, 168 private patient rooms, 12 operating rooms, radiation therapy and several integrated imaging technologies.
LEED© certification is Smilow’s most recent environmental recognition. The Connecticut Green Building Council awarded Smilow a 2011 Award of Merit and the Connecticut Business Journal recognized Smilow with 2010 Green Business Award. The hospital’s 7th floor healing garden received a 2010 Award of Merit from the Connecticut chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.