Breathing new life into Nassau Community College

The future is now for Nassau Community College in Garden City, and it’s taking shape in a $40 million life sciences building under construction on the north side of campus.

The 74,000-square-foot facility, expected to be complete in the spring of 2012, overflows with environmentally friendly building technologies in an effort to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“The college signed what’s called the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment about three years ago,” said Joseph Muscarella, the college’s vice president for administration and planning. “One of the stipulations when you sign the agreement is that every new building and major renovation comply with U.S. LEED regulations … Part of it benefits you directly, and part of it benefits society overall.”

The Climate Commitment requires that colleges do all in their power to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions –– caused when fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are burned to generate electricity. The emissions, scientists believe, are a major contributor to global warming. By building “greener,” Nassau Community College will reduce its electric use –– and hence its greenhouse-gas emissions.

The college’s future home of the chemistry and nursing departments almost seems to be alive. The many systems that will control the flow of water, air and light throughout the building will act much like the human body, constantly retaining, filtering and recycling resources for further use.

On the building’s exterior, recycled copper panels will be locked together over layers of rubber and fiberglass, making the building impenetrable to water –– and the mold that comes with it. All of the rainwater collected on the roof will be funneled into four massive cisterns located 30 feet underground. The rainwater will be used to irrigate the landscaping.