Medical Research Facility Showcases Eco-Social Construction

The Belfer Medical Research Building on the campus of New York’s Weill Cornell Medical College was designed to be a 19-story model of eco-social construction. Designed by Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects, the building showcases a number of sustainability features, including a storm water detention system on the roof.

Built for a cost of more than $630 million, the tower includes 13 stories of research laboratories. The tower has three roof levels at the 17th, 18th and 19th floors. The rainwater detention system, known as a “blue roof,” not only helps regulate storm water discharge, but it feeds a water fountain and irrigates planters on the second-floor terrace.

In general, rainwater detention systems can either collect water in holding tanks and then meter it to the public sewer system, or retain it on a waterproofed roof expanse. The blue roof on the Belfer Research Building uses the latter strategy. It complies with New York City requirements and can hold up to 3 inches of water.

Roof Materials

Proper waterproofing on the project is essential. The solvent-free and odor-free KEMPEROL 2K-PUR cold, liquid-applied membrane system was used for waterproofing the blue roof. It was also used on the terrace and fountains on the lower level. The reinforced membrane system is designed for long service life and backed by an extended-wear warranty.

Eagle One Roofing Contractors Inc. of Astoria, N.Y., a certified applicator of the Kemper System, applied the waterproofing system. The two-part resin system is designed to fully adhere to the substrate, and is fully reinforced with fleece. The resulting membrane is completely seamless and unaffected by ponding water and ice. According to the manufacturer, it resists exposure to UV light, chemicals, oils and solvents. It is impervious to bio-deterioration and is both root- and rot-resistant, so it is also ideal for green roofs and landscaped areas.

Roof Report

The supporting structure below the roof was designed to carry the water load, with an allowance for heavy snow or ice buildup. The roof deck is concrete slab and includes a layer of rigid insulation below the waterproofing membrane for added energy efficiency. The gravity-fed drainage system was carefully sized to control the speed of drainage without the use of pumps, sometimes required for rainwater detention systems that use holding tanks. On the roof sections, the waterproofing sections were topped with concrete pavers on a pedestal system.

Construction at the Weill Cornell Medical College, both interior renovations and new construction, is designed to meet a minimum LEED Silver status. This project was designed to achieve Gold certification, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

On the south side of the building, Ennead created a double-skinned, fritted glass curtain wall with openings and sun-shading devices that absorb the sun’s heat before it gets trapped inside, which would require the HVAC system to pump out more cold air. Continuous ribbon windows flood the building with natural light, and energy-efficient HVAC, lighting controls and water-conservation systems save on power and resources. The building’s green infrastructure is expected to shrink Weill Cornell’s energy bill for it by about 30 percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 26 percent compared to a building complying with the minimum requirements set by typical industry guidelines and standards.

The building includes a high-tech, multi-zoned HVAC control system to manage the indoor environment within different spaces. Biomedical laboratories, for example, generally require special air filtration systems supported by high-volume air circulation. Each of the laboratory levels includes four fume vents to the outside, except for the chemistry laboratory on the top floor, which uses 40 vents. In addition to thermostats and humidity sensors, indoor spaces utilize occupancy sensors to assist in regulating the ambient indoor environment and lighting to improve energy efficiency.

Photo: Kemper System America Inc.

TEAM

ARCHITECTS
Todd Schliemann, Ennead Architects, LLC, New York
William Cunningham, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York

ROOFING CONTRACTOR
Eagle One Roofing Contractors, Inc., Astoria, N.Y.

ROOF AND WATERPROOFING SYSTEM MANUFACTURER:
Kemper System America Inc., West Seneca, N.Y.