{"id":22838,"date":"2017-12-18T10:31:47","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T15:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=22838"},"modified":"2022-03-16T12:19:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T16:19:10","slug":"new-school-nyc-green-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/new-school-nyc-green-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"How The New School Is Advancing NYC\u2019s \u2018Green\u2019 Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New School<\/span><\/a>, located in the heart of Manhattan, is taking groundbreaking steps to advance environmental sustainability efforts in New York City. <\/span><\/p>\n

The university has constructed a 16-story LEED Gold certified University Center, served as the only college or university participant in the first ever NYC Zero Waste Challenge, and divested entirely from fossil fuels.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEnvironmental sustainability is a core value at The New School,\u201d said <\/span>Molly Craft Johnson<\/span><\/a>, The New School\u2019s University Sustainability Associate. \u201cSustainability is a significant part of the campus culture. We take a holistic, multi-dimensional view of sustainability that considers a large array of interdependent factors: energy, waste, water, climate, academics and research, environmental justice, food, behavior and culture, health and wellness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sustainable University Center<\/b><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>University Center<\/span><\/a> (UC), which opened in January 2014, is one of the most environmentally friendly university buildings in the country. It perfectly portrays The New School\u2019s dedication to environmental sustainability. <\/span><\/p>\n

Located at Fifth Avenue and 14th Street, the UC has a total floor space of <\/span>360,000 square feet<\/span><\/a>. It holds classrooms, an 800-seat auditorium, a cafeteria, a cafe, and serves as a residence hall for up to 600 students. Its green roof, cogeneration plant, and smart lighting and climate systems help save energy, water, and waste. <\/span><\/p>\n

Because the building is located in the midst of busy Manhattan, it lacks a typical grassy quad like most colleges have. But, in an effort to create a similar space where teachers and students can interact, the university implemented \u201ccommunity stairs.\u201d The open stairs sweep through communal areas in the building so peers and colleagues can easily conversate. While there are elevators that are programmed to maximize efficiency, the open stairs are meant as the primary means of circulation within the building for those who are able to do so. <\/span><\/p>\n

Connected to the stairs are circulation paths that weave throughout the building. The paths eventually open up into \u201csky quads-interactive spaces,\u201d which are also intended to initiate \u00a0conversation between students and faculty. The interactive spaces are comprised of study centers, student resource centers with meeting rooms, caf\u00e9s, student lounge areas, and pin-up spaces for design studios.<\/span><\/p>\n

The building also has bike storage rooms and showers to facilitate biking, walking and running between the home and the school for those who commute. <\/span><\/p>\n