The Irving Institute Celebrates Another Award for Sustainable Design Excellence

We are proud to share that The Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society has recently been honored with the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award. Recognized as the industry's leading program for sustainable design excellence, the AIA COTE awards celebrate projects that demonstrate outstanding environmental performance alongside innovative and compelling architecture.

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The Sandra L. Irving 1972a Commons in the Irving Institute with a view of the Baker-Berry Library.

In addition, last year the Irving Institute received the 2024 Building of the Year award from the New Hampshire Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. This annual recognition highlights the highest-scoring LEED-certified building in the state. The Irving Institute has achieved LEED Platinum certification, the highest rating available, underscoring its commitment to sustainability.

The development of the Irving Institute involved close collaboration between Goody Clancy and Dartmouth's campus stakeholders, including facilities staff. The overarching goal was to create a high-performing building that advances sustainability and decarbonization while embodying the Institute's dedication to interdisciplinary research and education.

Connecting Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering and Tuck School of Business, with a direct sightline to the Baker-Berry Library, the Irving Institute functions as a campus crossroads. Its prominent location fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and symbolizes the integration of arts, sciences, engineering, and business.

"What makes the Irving Institute so special isn't just its high-performance design, it's how the space enables connection," said Molly Dunn, Building Engagement & Operations Manager. "We see students, faculty, and researchers from across Dartmouth coming together here to exchange ideas, solve complex problems, and collaborate on a shared vision for a more sustainable future."

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The Call to Lead Lab in the Irving Institute.

Designed with both performance and community in mind, the building incorporates numerous sustainable features:

• Energy Efficiency: The main entrance functions as a natural ventilation feature, utilizing a double-skin cavity—a glass exterior separated by a three-foot buffer zone—that facilitates airflow and exhaust, reducing reliance on mechanical systems. Automated shading devices deploy to minimize solar gain, helping maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. The design also preserved existing structures, significantly conserving embodied carbon by reducing material waste and emissions.
• High-Performance Envelope: The building's double-skin facade, automated operable windows, and advanced insulation cut energy consumption by approximately 33%. Complemented by high-efficiency HVAC systems—including radiant ceilings and floors, supply and exhaust air systems, energy recovery ventilators, and chilled beams—these features ensure thermal comfort and excellent indoor air quality. Rooftop photovoltaics generate clean, renewable energy, further decreasing dependence on external power.
• Materials and Systems: The project seamlessly blends traditional campus architecture with modern sustainability strategies through innovative systems and low-impact materials. The use of lower-carbon concrete mixes, wood envelope components, and sustainable insulation contributed to an overall reduction of about 1.7 million kilograms of CO₂e emissions—equivalent to over 15 years of typical operational emissions.
• Stormwater Management: Integrated drainage systems help mitigate stormwater runoff, enhancing campus resilience and ecological health.

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The Irving Institute Atrium.

The Irving Institute fosters community through its expansive, welcoming atrium, encouraging interaction and collaboration. Interior spaces prioritize thermal comfort, excellent ventilation, and abundant daylight—over 90% of work areas are naturally lit. Large, high-performance glass windows provide views while filling interior spaces with natural light, creating a bright and inviting environment.

Climate models project that Hanover will experience a 75-130% increase in days requiring cooling by the end of the century. To address this, the building incorporates architecturally integrated cooling and ventilation strategies, including an automated natural ventilation system. These features reduce environmental impact and enhance resilience under future climate conditions.

Faculty Director Geoff Parker commented, "Sustainable solutions to energy and climate challenges require innovation at the intersection of disciplines. It's a privilege to work in a building that not only serves as a metaphor for our ambitions but also physically embodies what we aim to achieve through our academic and research programs."

The Irving Institute exemplifies sustainable design excellence—reducing environmental impacts while creating a resilient, future-ready academic space. It stands as a model of how innovative architecture can support higher education's mission to promote sustainability, foster research, and strengthen community engagement.

Learn more about Goody Clancy and the AIA COTE Top Ten Award. 

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The entrance to the Fern Cafe in the Irving Institute.