The new 14-story Emerson College Piano Row residence hall and campus center, designed by KlingStubbins of Cambridge, was recently awarded LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is one of only two LEED certified residence halls in Mass.
By combining the student residences with a campus center and athletic complex, Emerson promoted development density, which favors public transportation options. Piano Row is also located on a redeveloped urban site. Other sustainable features are found in the plumbing and mechanical systems. Emerson has shown a commitment to water conservation by using captured rainwater for irrigation, and by introducing reduced-flow fixtures to effect a 30% reduction in water cost. The mechanical systems, designed to reduce energy cost, are independently commissioned and use off-site generation to reduce the size of the physical plant in the building. Additionally, the owner and contractor were engaged in aggressive management of the construction waste, and the designers incorporated significant amounts of recycled and regionally-manufactured materials into the building. Finally, the building was designed to provide maximum day lighting and views to all of the living spaces.