Norton, MA – EYP Architecture & Engineering is providing integrated programming, design, and energy consulting services for Wheaton College’s Mars Center for Science and Technology. The largest capital project in the College’s history, the highly visible facility comprises approximately 73,000gsf of new construction and 22,000gsf of renovation. With energy conservation measures such as a living green roof, extensive day-lighting and high-efficiency HVAC systems, the anticipated minimum energy cost savings is 30 percent more than LEED baseline.
EYP’s integrated approach ensures a facility that encourages student-faculty collaboration and campus-wide interdisciplinary learning and research while exemplifying the College’s commitment to sustainability.
The three-story building design incorporates open space and extensive glass to reveal the activity and share the excitement of science with the campus, sparking interest in interdisciplinary collaborations.
With its dynamic curves, green roofs, and outdoor spaces, the design resolves the dynamic tension between the grid of the campus plan and the adjacent wetlands.
The facility includes 12 teaching labs, 23 research labs, faculty and support spaces, a greenhouse, a vivarium, as well as conference rooms and a café, creating an attractive, academically-focused community center.
Designed to achieve a LEED Silver certification with sustainable response to the local landscape being a primary design requirement, the building’s sustainable features include: a 1,300sf “green” roof; drought-tolerant plants to conserve water; solar shading on glass and brim for energy efficiency year-round; glass walls for natural light; night sky–compliant lighting that shines downward to reduce light pollution; motion-sensor lighting indoors for energy conservation; use of certified, responsibly forested wood throughout the building; vinyl tile floors made of recycled material; carbon dioxide sensors to monitor air quality; energy recovery wheels in the air-handling units to reduce heating and cooling loads; highly reflective and vegetated roof surfaces to minimize the cooling loads during the warm months; and bioretention basins to control quantity and quality of stormwater runoff.
Wheaton’s Mars Center for Science – EYP Provides Multi-Disciplinary Services
Norton, MA – EYP Architecture & Engineering is provided integrated programming, design, and energy consulting services for Wheaton College’s Mars Center for Science and Technology. The largest capital project in the College’s history, the highly visible facility comprises approximately 73,000gsf of new construction and 22,000gsf of renovation. With energy conservation measures such as a living green roof, extensive day-lighting and high-efficiency HVAC systems, the anticipated minimum energy cost savings is 30 percent more than LEED baseline.