The Rutgers EcoComplex is the nation’s first research and technology development center that is dedicated to enhancing the environment and agriculture through education, public outreach and the research and development of green businesses.  The building itself was conceived to be as “green” as its function, with many environmentally-friendly design elements built right in.

The two-story building was built on one-third of the building grounds, keeping disturbances to the surrounding natural environment to a minimum.  Rainwater from the building passes over the lawn before going into the retention pond to increase groundwater recharge. The architects planned functional space efficiencies as well. The team organized the compact, two-story structure around an internal atrium, reducing corridor space and maximizing usable square footage.

This facility is a green building, incorporating the following environmentally-friendly elements: passive solar heating through the south-facing atrium;, utilization of  the adjacent landfill’s methane gas for heat production; computer controlled HVAC system, a heated floor system in the atrium and scale up lab; low-E glass, florescent-dimmable lighting and a newly-formulated interior paint which eliminates the “off-gassing” of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).   The building also uses structural beams that were created from recycled metal.