Wilkens Science Center
The Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center is a green building and speaks to the 21st century and sustainability in every way. This new building is energy-efficient and its underground parking creates more green space on campus. The glass facade offers a spectacular view of this enhanced green space and open atriums provide views of the Emerald Necklace and the Boston skyline that are unmatched.
The Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center follows the City of Boston zoning guidelines calling for new construction to be equivalent to LEED-certified construction. The design of the building incorporates a number of sustainable strategies including energy efficient mechanical systems (including the NStar utility Advanced Building Program), daylighting, stormwater management, and the use of low-emitting, recycled, and locally-available materials and recycling of waste building materials.
Daylighting is a major feature of the new teaching labs and classrooms—the exterior envelope is an energy efficient combination of glass curtain wall and brick masonry. The curtain wall is glazed with low-e glass which allows use of daylighting (sunlight) for interior lighting without excessive heat loss or gain from the exterior. The interior lighting system has daylight sensors that automatically dim the lights for energy savings whenever there is summary sufficient sunlight.
The Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center at Emmanuel College
