A Showcase of Renewable Energy Systems and Sustainability Features

Nestled on the south side of the Alumnae House lawn at the campus gateway, the building housing The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts, The Heartwood at Vassar, and The Salt Line Hudson Valley restaurant is an exemplar of sustainable design.

The building includes a ground-source geothermal heating and cooling system, a solar thermal hot water system, and a solar photovoltaic system to generate electricity. These systems avoid carbon emissions of 110 metric tons per year compared with a building with standard systems. And even though it is an all-electric building, it uses 475,000 kWh less than would a traditional building.

The design of the building preserves the domestic scale of the surrounding neighborhood by using three discrete elements: a three-story gable roof hotel; the two-story Institute with a restaurant below; and a glass lobby to create the notion of a public living room.

The landscape design creates a welcoming approach with fully accessible pathways and highlights native plant species and on-site stormwater filtration.

The project was partially supported by a $1.17 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority through its Energy to Lead Program.

• Bryan Swarthout, Vice President for Finance and Administration
• Marianne H. Begemann, Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources
• Maryann Pilon, Director of Project Management & Construction
• Construction Manager: Consigli Construction
• Architect: Frederick Fisher and Partners

In November of 2024, a Green Building Symposium was held at the building. Part of a three-day Ecovisions conference, the symposium included a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, and a tour of the building’s renewable energy systems.

The symposium, titled “Building Decarbonization for a Just Energy Transition,” brought together experts, community members, and Vassar faculty, staff, and students for discussion designed to establish the building as a hub for exploration into green buildings and the energy transition away from fossil fuels. See the program.

Opening Remarks and Keynote

Panel Discussion

Construction began on August 29, 2022. Between August 29 to October 7, three existing buildings (outdated and energy inefficient) were removed from the property. Grading of the site was done September 12 to 28, 2022. The building construction process began on October 24, 2022.

Preparation for the installation of the geothermal wells was done beginning on October 31, 2022, and all the well drilling and piping was completed by the end of January 2023.

Substantial completion of the building was achieved on May 17, 2024. Commissioning was undertaken during May, June, and July. Owner move-in began May 20 and was completed on August 6.

Site Logistics Plan

Time Lapse Videos of the Construction Process

Aerial Photos of the Construction Process

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A state-of-the-art geothermal heat pump system provides heating and cooling services for the building. The system has 56 wells, each down to a depth of 500 feet. Fluid circulates through the wells and into the building through a system of piping that runs five feet below the ground. Three water pumps move the fluid through the system. Entering the building in a dedicated mechanical room, the piping directs the fluid through a heat exchanger, through condenser water pumps, and then throughout the building via heat pumps. The fluid returns through the heat exchanger and back into the wells.

Through this cycle, heat is transferred between the building and the earth around the wells. In the summer, the cooler (compared to outside air) temperatures underground enable the transfer of heat out of the building. In the winter, the warmer (compared to outside air) temperatures underground enable the transfer of heat into the building.

For more information on how geothermal heat pump systems work, visit energy.gov and thisoldhouse.com.

Geothermal Wells

This building’s system of 56 wells, located on three sides of the building, has a heating/cooling capacity of around 850,000 btu per hour, which makes it around a 70 ton system. This is large enough to provide for all heating and cooling needs.

Geothermal Hookups.

Heat Exchanger.

Condenser and Water Supply.

Water Pump.

Geothermal Wells Dashboard.

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• The parking lot features four level 2 Chargepoint EV charging stations.
• The landscaping includes two bioretention swales to reduce stormwater runoff, and the parking lot has permeable pavement.
• The brick is made from reclaimed construction materials.
• The floor to ceiling glass windows on the Institute side are coated with a ceramic frit that produces an attractive pattern while reducing glare, cooling costs, and bird strikes.
• In addition to standard recycling, food waste and used cooking oil is also collected for repurposing.

Including the renewable energy systems significantly reduces the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the building compared to if it were built according to the conventional ASHRAE Standard 90.1.

According to modeling:

• Electricity consumption is reduced by 474,394 kWh per year. The 67,535 kWh generated by the solar PV array further reduces electricity consumption.
• The burning of 735 Mcf of natural gas is avoided.
• The total annual carbon emissions avoided is 108 MTCO2e, roughly equivalent to driving 275,000 miles in a gas vehicle with an average mpg rating.