Kroon Hall, the new home for the School of Forestry and Environm…
Kroon Hall, the new home for the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University, is an ultra-green building targeting LEED Platinum. Meant to serve as teaching tools for the students within, the sustainable initiatives are on display where possible, but some—such as the creation of courtyards for students to gather and study outdoors—are more about good planning.
Morley von Sternberg
The building has large skylights that admit daylight and also ex…
The building has large skylights that admit daylight and also expose the rooftop photovoltaic system. Translucent enough to still allow light to filter through, the 100-kilowatt array provides 25 percent of the energy for the building, the rest of which will be purchased from sustainable sources.Skylight
Wasco Skylight Products
Custom skylight system
wascoskylights.comCeiling Beams
Goodlam, a division of Goodfellow
Structural red oak glulam beams
goodfellowinc.comDoors
Builders’ Hardware
Custom doors
builders-hardware.net
Courtesy Hopkins Architects
Morley von Sternberg
The east and west ends of the building feature a metal and glass…
The east and west ends of the building feature a metal and glass curtain wall shaded by laminated Douglas fir arches and louvers to prevent glare and heat gain. The main entrance is actually on the second floor—the first floor is inset into a hill, and only the south side has access to a colonnade and courtyard.Curtain Wall
Kawneer North America
Custom metal and glass curtain wall
kawneer.comSunshading
Goodlam, a division of Goodfellow
Douglas fir arch and louvers
goodfellowinc.comRoofing
Follansbee Roofing
Sloped metal roofing
follansbeeroofing.com
Morley von Sternberg
Robert Benson
In an effort to use local materials and aesthetically link the m…
In an effort to use local materials and aesthetically link the modern building with the neighboring Collegiate Gothic stone structures on campus, the architects turned to sandstone. Windows along this south facade are either deeply inset into precast concrete—a mixture in which 50 percent of the required cement was replaced with ground granulated blast-furnace slag, to recycle waste material and reduce CO2 emissionsÑor sunshaded to reduce heat gain while still maximizing daylight and views.Concrete
Rex Precast Systems
Precast concrete
rexprecast.comMasonry
The Briar Hill Stone Co.
Sandstone masonry
briarhillstone.comPhotovoltaics
SunPower
Model 225 solar photovoltaic panel
us.sunpowercorp.com
Robert Benson
A student center at the west end of the third floor provides spa…
A student center at the west end of the third floor provides space for individual or group study. The space is differentiated from the rest of the largely open floor by a change in flooring—from modular carpet tile to hardwood. One-third of the wood used in the building came from Yale's own sustainably run forests, and serves as a good in-house example of green practices for the students in the forestry program.Tables
Fairhaven Furniture
Custom tables
fairhaven-furniture.comBuilding management system and HVAC controls
Automated Logic Corp.
Customized building management software system
automatedlogic.com
Robert Benson
The large open volume on the third floor is split into several s…
The large open volume on the third floor is split into several sections. Two smaller classrooms are enclosed in a volume along the south wall, with a break out area with cafe tables on the north side. A student center and auditorium anchor the ends. Windows are operable to allow natural ventilation into the space, and lights at each window indicate whether the central HVAC system (which runs air in an under-floor plenum) is operating. The system is turned off during the mild spring and fall seasons to reduce energy usage.Side Chairs
Kusch + Co.
Luca chairs
kusch.comLighting Controls
Sensor Switch
nLight control system
sensorswitch.com
Robert Benson
A study area on the south face of the building's ground floor lo…
A study area on the south face of the building's ground floor looks out onto a colonnade and courtyard that students can use as an outdoor study and socializing area during the warmer months. Previously occupied by parking lots and a gas power plant, the new outdoor space better connects with the other campus buildings. Operable windows allow natural ventilation and communication back and forth between students inside and out.Carpet
InterfaceFLOR
Menagerie modular carpet tiles
interfaceflor.comWindows
Marvin Windows and Doors
Custom windows
marvin.comLounge seating
B1 sofa
Bernhardt Design
bernhardtdesign.com
Robert Benson
A central staircase and lightwell allow light from the third flo…
A central staircase and lightwell allow light from the third floor skylights to reach the office corridors on the third floor. Natural light is maximized and supplemented by energy-efficient fixtures such as Gammalux downlights and occupancy and light level sensors by Sensor Switch.Downlights
Gammalux Systems
GR4B-132T8 interior downlight
gammalux.comWall Finishes
Legere Woodworking
100 percent FSC-certified wall paneling
legeregroup.com
Courtesy Hopkins Architects
Courtesy Hopkins Architects
Courtesy Hopkins Architects
Courtesy Hopkins Architects
Courtesy Hopkins Architects
Morley von Sternberg
Kroon Hall has several types of classrooms to accommodate differ…
Kroon Hall has several types of classrooms to accommodate different styles of courses. This auditorium has theater seating and acoustic material behind red oak slats along the back wall to prevent sound reverberation. The Douglas fir–laminated louvers on the exterior admit daylight while at the same time reducing glare.Sunshading
MechoShade Systems
ElectroShade system for motorized shades
mechoshade.comMillwork
Legere Woodworking
Cabinetwork and custom woodwork
legeregroup.com
Morley von Sternberg
A classroom on the third floor features power at every seat so s…
A classroom on the third floor features power at every seat so students can plug in their laptops. An LCD projector is set up for PowerPoint and video presentations.Wall Washer Light Fixtures
Winona Lighting
P5 wall-mount wall washing fixture
winonalighting.comSteel
Capco Steel
Structural steel with up to 95 percent recycled content
capcosteelco.com
Kroon Hall, home of Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, is a 56,467-square-foot facility that is LEED Platinum certified from the USGBC and was honored this year by the American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment as one of the 2010 COTE Top Ten Green Projects.
The hall features two outdoor courtyards, office space, three classrooms, a 175-seat auditorium, learning center, environmental center, and library. Green attributes include a geothermal energy system, solar hot water heaters, a heat recovery ventilation system, natural light and ventilation, sustainably harvested wood, low-impact paint, and low-E glass. The south side of Kroon Hall’s rooftop supports a 100-kilowatt array of photovoltaic panels that provides about 25 percent of the building’s electricity. Inside, natural light will be augmented with artificial light to maintain a constant lighting level; the latter is also controlled by sensors that shut off automatically if no one is present.
A rainwater harvesting system and cleansing pond collects runoff from the building’s roof and from portions of the grounds. Once collected, the water is held in a settling tank that allows the majority of the sediment to settle out. From there, the water is moved to a storage tank, combined with any excess water from the geothermal wells, and slowly recirculated through the surface treatment pond. The pond employs aquatic plants to further cleanse the water, while also providing an enjoyable and relaxing area for the whole community. Finally, after the water is filtered and disinfected, it can be used for toilet flushing in the building, and for landscape irrigation.
