Cornell's New Campus Breaks Ground and Passive House is the Main Attraction

This spring we said "Passive House Poised To Go Big" Now we're saying "Passive House Is Going Big."

On June 16th, Cornell Tech held a groundbreaking ceremony on Roosevelt Island. While the event took place to announce Bloomberg Philanthropies $100Mil gift to the new campus, the "BOOM!" heard round the low-energy/high-performance world was news that the campus will have the world's tallest Passive House. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Cornell President David Skorton, and David Kramer, Principal of the Hudson companies, all spoke at length about the importance of making this building a Passive House. We whittled the 1 hour plus ceremonial speeches down to the 4 minutes plus that will interest you energy-minded folk. (Note: Mayor de Blasio's thanking "the Mayor" is referencing former NYC Mayor Bloomberg, seated just to his left).

Developed by the Hudson Companies in partnership with Related Companies, it was designed by New York City-based Handel Architects, with engineers BuroHappold, Passive House consultants Steven Winter Associates and Passive House Institute certifying organization, Passive House Academy. The high-rise will also be the tallest building on Cornell Tech’s campus. Press reports can be found on the NYTimes and Green Building Advisor.

Just days before this groundbreaking speech, Mayor de Blasio was awarded the first annual New York Passive House Hero Award at the well-attended NY15 Passive House Conference and Expo at the Metropolitan Pavilion on June 11. If Passive House can make it in New York, it can make it anywhere. And the world's tallest Passive House will be arriving on Roosevelt Island in only 2 years.