The new 39,000 gsf Science and Engineering Building provides a modern laboratory learning environment for Cape Cod Community College students. The building offers classrooms, lecture halls, and faculty offices for biology, physics, astronomy, environmental science, advanced manufacturing and engineering, math learning center, and chemistry. The building also contains labs for STEM, renewable energy, and math and computer classes.

Vanderweil performed extensive energy modeling to identify and target the most efficient sustainability strategies, and worked with both the owner and architect to develop creative solutions. The building is all electric to eliminate direct emissions from the building, and leverage an ever-cleaner electricity grid and onsite renewable energy. Reversible heat pump/chillers were also used to heat and cool the building.

Other low-EUI strategies include recirculating fume hoods, heat recovery, optimized ventilation supply temperature (“neutral air”), and switching ventilation rates for laboratory modules between “lab” and “classroom” modes, and result in an EUI of 52 kBTU/sf. The addition of a 225 kW PV array to the roof and another 300 kW parking PV canopy make this STEM facility net zero emissions and net positive energy.