John A. Paulson Center | 2023

Location: New York, New York, USA
Architects: Davis Brody Bond - a Page Company / Kieran Timberlake, LLP
Landscape Architects: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
Structural Engineers: Severud Associates
General Contractor: Turner Construction Company
Client: New York University
Photographers: Connie Zhou and James Ewing

The LEED Gold John A. Paulson Center is a 735,000 sq. ft. mixed-use academic building that sets a new paradigm for multi-use university facilities. The new building embodies the vibrancy and character of New York University, while offering new ways to engage, learn, work, play, and live. Designed to optimize interactions between diverse student groups and academic disciplines, the building includes classrooms; performing arts theaters, teaching, rehearsal, and practice rooms; athletic facilities for varsity sports and recreation; and housing for students and faculty.

Each of these spaces is organized into unique “neighborhoods” connected by an expansive Commons that provides collaborative gathering spaces. Designed in support of NYU’s Climate Action Plan for carbon neutrality by 2040, the building incorporates sustainable design features to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and the amount of waste generated during construction and everyday use.

The building is connected to NYU’s existing Co-Gen plant that simultaneously produces electricity, heat, and chilled water, substantially reducing the number of resources used, as well as greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. The Paulson Center maximizes energy efficiency without compromising performance, maintenance, or operating cost. An energy model was used throughout design to better understand energy use, explore efficiency opportunities, and comply with or exceed code requirements.

Utilizing the data from the energy model and working collaboratively across the design team and including the client, the project is anticipated to reduce overall site energy use by 13%, resulting in an energy cost savings of 46%, when compared to the Energy Conservation Code and ASHRAE 90.1 baselines. In addition to using cleaner energy, the building's design itself minimizes its carbon footprint. The transparent facade and its use of glare-reducing strategies, for example, lower energy requirements by allowing the building to rely primarily on natural light during the day.

The Paulson Center's series of green roofs and outdoor terraces naturally cool the building and its surrounding landscape while also helping to manage rainwater runoff. Over 40% water use reduction was achieved as compared with benchmarks, by installing low flow fixtures and implementing other design strategies.

The specified planting has low irrigation demands, and the irrigation system is equipped with rain sensors to conserve water resources. Stormwater tanks store 100% of rainfall and release it in accordance with DEP regulations to buffer the sewer system. The Paulson Center also includes storage and collection of recyclables building-wide, composting, and developed and implemented a construction waste management plan to recycle and salvage site waste to divert from landfills. In total, 88% of construction waste was diverted.

The NYU community embraced the building immediately at the start of the Spring 2023 semester. University leadership is proud of a new flagship building that will set standards in engagement and sustainability for further campus development.