Rachel Dunifon and Kristie Mahoney with LEED's Commercial Interiors Award
The Martha Van Rensselaer (MVR) Hall renovation project received a LEED Commercial Interiors Award from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) New York Upstate Board, a first for a building on Cornell’s campus, at a virtual reception held on Nov. 15.
The award is given to a project team that demonstrates decisions made about indoor air quality and thermal, visual and acoustic comfort and meets project challenges in an innovative way, meeting USGBC’s vision of proving the value of working together for a built environment that is ecologically, socially and economically healthy, resilient and prosperous for all.
Rachel Dunifon, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology, and Kristie Mahoney, senior director of strategic initiatives and academic integration, accepted the award on behalf of the project team.
“This LEED Commercial Interiors Award represents countless hours of research, design, innovation and documentation” Dunifon said. “And more than that, it reflects our deep commitment to honor the history of our building while also making MVR as sustainable, accessible and comfortable as possible.”
In addition to receiving the award for commercial interiors, Phase III of MVR’s renovation also received a credit for inclusive design, another first for Cornell. “We worked with students in our Department of Human Centered Design, who were instrumental in the process and added so much that helped us to earn this designation,” Dunifon said. “We’re really proud of serving as an example for future projects here at Cornell.”
“We decided early on to treat this project as more than a building renovation,” Mahoney said, whose vision and leadership on the project was essential to its success. “We saw MVR as a unique space, a physical hub for Human Ecology connecting the work happening in our studios, labs and classrooms to what’s happening in the real-world. From the very beginning, students, programs and the College’s mission formed the core of the project, and we considered every decision with that core in mind, thinking not just how the space would look, but how it feels interacting in MVR on an everyday basis. Human Ecology’s people and programs were front of mind throughout the building process, and we’re proud of that.”
Built in 1931-1933, the original MVR building is the heart of the Human Ecology complex and is equipped with auditoriums, classrooms, seminar rooms, design studios, faculty offices, laboratories and other specialized teaching and research facilities. Renovations began in 2005 and took part in three phases over 16 years. All three phases of the renovation received LEED Gold certification.“
We worked with students in our Department of Human Centered Design, who were instrumental in the process and added so much that helped us to earn this designation. We’re really proud of serving as an example for future projects here at Cornell.
"Checkerboard Square" was among the formal entrances and historical spaces respected in MVR's renovation
Throughout the project, we were able to retain historical elements from our original 1933 building, while also developing new spaces that reflect our work today,” Dunifon said.
At the heart of the Phase III renovation was a desire to respect MVR’s original formal entrances and historical and legacy spaces, both exterior and interior. Many original architectural elements were preserved, such as the black-and-white harlequin “checkerboard” marble titles, the crown and chair rail molding, and wood doors, while other features were updated with modern building technology, including the open staircases, encased in fire-rated glass. The original art deco light fixtures in the auditorium were restored, and new modern light fixtures were chosen to complement them.
Low-emitting materials, such as adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, flooring systems, composite wood, and low-emitting systems furniture were used. In addition, many classic pieces of furniture were given new life and greater visibility through this project. Over 60% of the furniture in the building was reused from existing inventory. New furniture was specified with FSC certified wood and upholstery was made of renewable and recyclable materials.
All heating and cooling equipment was chosen to provide the best energy efficiency while also maintaining comfort. The project also takes advantage of the University’s Lake Source Cooling system, which conserves energy and utilizes a renewable resource, eliminating the use of refrigerants and reducing the use of fossil fuels and the impact on the environment.
Original deco light fixtures were restored and complement modern light fixtures in MVR's renovated auditorium
An increase in natural light throughout the building reduced the overall need for lighting fixtures. In the repositioned first-floor corridor, windows previously blocked by offices now provide views and harvest light that the offices “borrow.” An open stair tower provides additional access to natural light, which is known to benefit workers’ mental health and productivity. All spaces throughout the building have variable controls that are driven by either an occupancy or vacancy sensor.
Special attention was paid to the acoustics, especially in large, open spaces, and extra effort was put in to ensure the users of the spaces were minimally distracted by noise.
Human Ecology’s people and programs were front of mind throughout the building process, and we’re proud of that.
Dean Rachel Dunifon and President Martha E. Pollack cut there ribbon for the rededication of Martha Van Rensselaer Hall on June 10. They were joined on the steps by former Dean Alan Mathios, Director of Facilities and Operations Kristie Mahoney, and University, local and state dignitaries.
Dunifon thanked many people for their contributions to the LEED Commercial Interiors Award, including the State of New York University (SUNY) Construction Fund for funding the project. “That fund supports programs that take place within the walls of these buildings, including 4-H, nutrition education and more serving New York State through the work that we do here,” Dunifon said.
“I’m also grateful for our university leadership, our fantastic Facilities Services team, and our project team, many of whom are here today, including Davies Orinda, Kristie Mahoney, Arthur Fives and Matt Kozlowski,” Dunifon said. She also thanked partners at SLAM architecture firm and M/E Engineering, including Rich Gostling, Melanie Stachowiack and Matt George, as well as Nick Neiley of Horizon Engineering. She also recognized the contributions of student interns involved in the project: Joanna Liu, Hyerin Lee and Yun Mi Koh.
“This restoration of our building really illustrates our commitment to the philosophy originally set for the College almost 100 years ago, and the innovative multidisciplinary institution that we have become by enhancing the quality, productivity and the overall experiences of all of us in MVR Hall,” Dunifon said. “We feel that this [renovation] really reflects our mission of improving human lives.”