The American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment have selected the top ten green projects that showcase excellence in sustainable design and reduced energy including Kroon Hall, part of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, New York.
Designed by London-based Hopkins Architects and Centerbrook Architects Planners of Centerbrook, Connecticut, Kroon Hall, the 68,800-sq-ft new home for the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies replaced a brownfield site and was charged as a net zero energy building. By using a mix of active and passive design measures and visible, invisible and interactive building features, the building earned a LEED platinum certificate. It was completed in January 2009.
The 6,200-sq-ft Omega Center for Sustainable Living is designed to clean water using Eco-Machine technologies and natural systems including the earth, plants and sunlight, return the clean water to local systems, and educate users about the process. The facility achieved a net zero energy system by being free of waste, organizing and turning to harvest solar energy for passive heating and lighting, utilizing the entire mass for thermal comfort. Omega Center was completed in May 2009.
Kroon Hall and Omega Center will be honored along with the other eight winning projects at the AIA 2010 National Convention and Design Exposition in Miami from June 10 through June 12.
