Marc, today's charrette was terrific. Thank you for your truly generous collaboration. You've caused me to turn a mental corner. Until recently, I thought that that to do really intelligent buildings, we'd need the right clients, the right engineers, and a premium budget. Thanks to you, I now believe that to do intelligent buildings all we need is INTELLIGENCE!—and the guts to ask the simple questions until we get the answers, and the courage of our convictions to persuade others...

We can do this and it will change things. You've empowered us. Thanks. –Ellen

Garthwaite Center - Cambridge School of Weston

Architectural design: Architerra  Engineering: Van Zelm

Energysmiths managed a process for CSW that set goals and measurable objectives, then selected a design team that had the capability to implement them, and worked with that team to design the building. This project is 22,000 sf of laboratory classrooms, faculty offices; meeting space; science display atrium; a large community gathering gallery; a small, secure art gallery; an integrated studies classroom; independent study space; and a campus data center. Energy strategies include: superinsulated envelope, wood pellet boiler with gas boiler back-up, daylighting, enthalpy recovery ventilation with demansd control, natural ventilation, and high efficiency lighting and controls including LEDs in the galleries.. All stormwater is infiltrated on site and human waste is treated in composting toilets. Low impact and durable materials were used throughout. Energysmiths performed air tightness testing during construction to assure performance. The project thus far has not achieved the stringent energy performance objective set at the outset of the process, but it appears within reach. This project was on the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects list in 2008.

Garthwaite Center Case Study