About this course

This course was originally presented at BuildingEnergy Boston 2024, a conference presented by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).

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.

Learning Objectives

  • Define the process required to evaluate threats to normal building operation and develop resiliency features to address or minimize their impact.
  • 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.
  • Determine a process for implementing resiliency measures in a cost effect fashion that leverages the benefits of stormwater capture and reuse.
  • 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.

Course outline

3 modules
1 hour to complete
56 minutes of video lectures
Welcome • 1 assignments
Orientation Materials

This is a free course. We take pride in our free courses, but keep in mind that this is only a taste of what we do in a full HeatSpring course. You can get started immediately after you enroll.

  • Welcome to the course!
Module 1 • 7 assignments
Resilience and Sustainable Design for Laboratories: Harvard Science and Engineering Complex Case Study

  • Introduction and History & Evolution of the Science and Engineering Complex (07:15 minutes)
  • Resilience Planning & Design Decisions (15:53 minutes)
  • Stormwater Management and Sustainable Systems (07:16 minutes)
  • Innovative Water Reuse Systems (04:46 minutes)
  • Energy Efficiency in Lab Buildings (08:25 minutes)
  • Advanced Ventilation and Cooling Techniques (12:53 minutes)
  • Presentation Slides (.pdf)
Conclusion • 2 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

  • Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
  • Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate (members only)

Authors

David Madigan

Senior Vice President, Van Zelm Engineers

Dave Madigan is Senior Vice President and Treasurer, with significant expertise in the design of high efficiency building systems for the academic sector. A LEED Accredited Professional, Dave is a frequent speaker on sustainable design. Dave’s areas of specialty center on college and university campus development, and high performance building designs and...

Erik Hegre

Partner, Behnisch Architekten

Erik Hegre, born 1980 in River Falls, WI, USA, received his Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining Behnisch Architekten’s Boston office in 2012, Erik’s experience was primarily with architectural practices specializing in design/build and fabrication,...

Frequently asked questions

Full FAQ
How does this course work?
This is a free course. Enroll today and get access to all of the materials instantly. This is a self-study, self-paced course and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll.
How long do I have access to the materials?
For free courses there is no guarantee for how long the course materials will be available.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Certificates of completion are only provided to HeatSpring Membership subscribers. This course has not been approved by any credentialing organizations (NABCEP, AIA, USGBC etc) for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs). This course is for self education purposes only and completion does not indicate a level of professional expertise or credential.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, this is a free course so you can share this page with other people from your team.

The use of technology such as cookies allows HeatSpring to operate and improve the functionality of our website and derive insights about our audience.

You can read more about our privacy policy here.