The New Education and Research Building is the most energy-efficient building on the UMass Chan Medical School campus
The recently completed New Education and Research Building (NERB) is the new center of UMass Chan Medical School’s campus in Worcester, Mass.
The $350 million NERB is the most energy-efficient building on UMass Chan’s campus and one of the most energy-efficient research laboratories in Massachusetts, according to a press statement.
Programmed and designed by ZGF Architects in association with ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, the NERB boosts the university’s ability to engage in multi-site clinical trials, targeting treatments for both rare and common diseases.
The NERB uses geothermal energy, reducing its carbon emissions from heating and cooling. The geothermal system provides 88% of the facility’s heating needs and 50% of its cooling needs annually, while the campus’s existing power plant covers peak demands and electricity.
The airtight envelope exceeds the Massachusetts building code for thermal performance by 22% and eliminates the need for perimeter heat, according to the statement. With triple glazing, the envelope limits heat loss and gain across seasons while also optimizing the amount of natural light inside the building.
The research floors are organized in a neighborhood layout, with a central hub of benches and research bays. Lab benches are positioned side by side to promote interaction. In addition, the NERB features a continuous concourse that links with adjacent research buildings via new pedestrian bridges.
Design on the project began in 2020, with construction commencing in 2021 and ending in 2024.
On the project team: ZGF Architects and ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge (architects), BR+A Consulting Engineers, LLC (MEP engineer), Richmond So Engineers (structural engineer), and Shawmut Design and Construction (construction manager).
