Resilience and Sustainable Design for Laboratories: Harvard Science and Engineering Complex Case Study

This session will present a case study of the 544,000 sf Harvard Science and Engineering Complex, one of the most sustainable and resilient buildings ever constructed. The project employed a highly integrated design process to satisfy the aggressive performance goals set by Harvard. These included resiliency measures to address climate change, in particular sea level rise, and the highest possible energy efficiency, while providing a healthy environment for occupants, extensive water use reduction, and recycling.

Session Speaker(s): 

Session Chair(s): 

Event Time: 

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Room / Location:
Harbor 3

CEU Information: 

AIA: 1 LU|HSW
BOC: 1 credit hour
GBCI: 1 credit hour (BD+C, O+M, WELL)
MA CSL: 1 credit hour (Energy)
NAHB: 1 credit hour
NARI: 1 credit hour
PHI: Credit offered for full conference attendance
Phius: Credit offered for each full conference day
RESNET: Credit offered for each full conference day

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the process required to evaluate threats to normal building operation and develop resiliency features to address or minimize their impact.
  • Determine a process for implementing resiliency measures in a cost effect fashion that leverages the benefits of stormwater capture and reuse.
  • Analyze facility water usage and develop methodologies to minimize usage and harvest stormwater and wastewater streams to minimize or eliminate the use of potable water.
  • Utilize an integrated design process to identify factors influencing energy use in various building types and design passive and active building systems to minimize energy use, optimize water usage, and integrate resilience strategies while providing a healthy indoor environment.

Session ID: 

BOS24-124