Sustainability
GREEN DESIGN | ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP | LEED ACCREDITED
At MCF, we hold a steadfast commitment to sustainable design, guided by the philosophy that "a building should give back more to a site than it takes." Our projects are dedicated to minimizing their environmental footprint by adopting a conscientious energy approach. To achieve this, we embrace an integrated design process that incorporates a combination of passive strategies, active solutions, and renewable technologies.
Through careful consideration of the site's natural elements and context, our team harnesses passive design strategies that optimize energy efficiency and create a harmonious relationship between the built environment and nature. Additionally, we leverage cutting-edge active solutions to further enhance energy performance and reduce resource consumption. Embracing renewable energy sources, we strive to bring a regenerative aspect to our projects, ensuring they actively contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Sustainable Campus
Antioch College
Prior to the College's reopening, MCF was asked to help Master Plan their campus for the crucial, next 10 years. One mission was at the forefront of their plan; Antioch would like to be the first 100% Carbon Neutral campus in the United States. All design and renovation would need to aid in their endeavors. Since that time, we have renovated three buildings to USGBC standards. All are, or will be, LEED Certified. We have additionally renovated an old engineering building into their Central Geothermal Plant. It currently heats & cools four buildings on campus. With expansion, it will cover the entire College. The College also added a five-acre solar array on the south of campus which will generate 1.2 million kilowatt hours of energy annually.
HIGHLIGHTS
Central Geothermal Plant
Campus Farm
One Megawatt Solar Farm
Renovated Energy Efficient facilities
Planned Carbon Neutrality
Latimer Family Library
Saint Vincent College
The University Commons at Carlow was programmed and designed to transform the social and learning environment of the entire campus by providing accommodations for student life, dining, active learning and community engagement. The Commons building embodies the new vision of the University integrating an array of facilities to support student and faculty learning and collaboration. The University Commons is a beacon and home for the state-of-the-art Digital Learning and Innovation Center, art gallery and flexible conference space.
TYPE Renovation
SIZE 82,500 sqft.
HIGHLIGHTS
LEED Silver Certified
Center for Digital Learning and Innovation
Multipurpose Assembly Space
McGinley Center for Student Success
Active Learning Classrooms
New Campus Heart and Beacon
Scot Center
College of Wooster
In the planning stages for many years, MCF designed the Scot Center to aid in the College of Wooster's desire to become more sustainable. The 123,000 square foot LEED Gold Certified structure was an addition to the existing Physical Education Center. The most prominent feature of the building is the 20,000 square foot solar array situated on the south-facing roof of the recreation center, which conducts 271,000-kilowatt hours per year of electricity, enough to power one of the College's dormitories.
TYPE Addition
SIZE 123,000 sqft.
HIGHLIGHTS
LEED Gold Certified
Creates 271,000 Kilowatt-Hours of
Electricity Per Year
NCAA Regulation 6 Lane Track
Foster Research Environment
Creation of a Wellness Community
Campus Link
University Commons
Carlow University
The University Commons at Carlow was programmed and designed to transform the social and learning environment of the entire campus by providing accommodations for student life; dining; active learning and community engagement The Commons South-facing facade has electronically tintable glass on two levels that reduces solar heat gain during peak sun exposure, eliminating window treatments while maintaining a view & allowing natural light in.
TYPE Renovation
SIZE 82,500 sqft.
HIGHLIGHTS
LEED® Certified Silver
Sustainable Site Design
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Materials and Resources
Indoor Air Quality
Innovation in Design
Sis & Dupre Science Pavilion
Saint Vincent College
The Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion incorporates many aspects of sustainable design. The project was awarded LEED Gold Certification through improvements to the quality of the site, reductions in water and energy consumption, use of materials that reduced the impact on the environment and providing a healthy and safe place for faculty members and students to work. The custom-designed geothermal heating and cooling system, which provides environmentally comfortable and responsible energy efficiencies utilizing a series of 227 wells in a field 100 yards behind the pavilion, provides natural heating and cooling. In addition to the mechanical system, the facility is also topped with 111 photovoltaic panels generating 30,000 KWH of electricity for the building.
TYPE Addition / Renovation
SIZE 107,000 sqft.
HIGHLIGHTS
LEED Gold Certified
Project Kaleidoscope Principles
Integrated Science Program
Student / Faculty Research Environment
Science on Display
Part of a Sustainable Campus
Additional Projects
