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Building a more sustainable learning environment at Cornell
Salas O’Brien supported Cornell University’s new Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science Building with high-performance engineering that enhances learning, collaboration, and sustainability.
Cornell University has opened its new 135,000-square-foot Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science Building, creating a central hub for innovation, research, and collaboration at the gateway to its Ithaca, New York, campus.
Salas O’Brien provided multidisciplinary engineering services, partnering with architects from Leers Weinzapfel Associates, structural engineering team Thornton Tomasetti, and general contractor LeChase. The firm delivered high-performance systems that support Cornell’s advanced learning environment while improving energy efficiency and long-term building performance.
Sustainability played a central role in the building’s design, with the project meeting the New York State Energy Code and the City of Ithaca Energy Code Supplement. Salas O’Brien’s team integrated advanced systems and materials to reduce carbon emissions, energy consumption, and water use, aligning with Cornell’s long-term environmental goals and targeting LEED Gold certification. This work shows how the firm keeps raising the bar in delivering innovative, sustainable solutions for higher education campuses across North America.
The facility gives students space to collaborate and bring computing, information science, statistics, and data science programs together. Key features include:
- Large classrooms and active-learning spaces
- Maker and builder labs that encourage hands-on experience
- Open commons and café areas that foster daily interaction
- Dedicated research labs, offices, and meeting spaces on upper floors
- Daylight-filled environments that support comfort and productivity
These elements create a more dynamic learning environment and encourage interdisciplinary connections across the university community.