According to the World Congress of
Architects, sustainability means
meeting our needs today without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
On a practical level, a sustainable
science building is a high
performance building that through
siting, orientation, design,
construction, and operation is highly
energy efficient, has measurably
lower operating costs, minimizes
environment impact, and promotes
whole health for the users.
Philosophically, it is a building that
respects the environment and
humbly recognizes humanity as a
biological element in this natural
order. The 2012 science building will
seamlessly blend the practical and
the philosophical, allowing the
building systems and the science
programs to mutually support each
other. It will incorporate the latest
sustainable design concepts and
environmentally friendly
technologies while demonstrating a
sophisticated understanding of the
complexity of nature and its impact
on science education.