The House at Cornell Tech

Project Overview

As part of its vision for a state-of-the-art sustainable campus on Roosevelt Island, Cornell Tech sought to create housing that would support graduate students, faculty, and staff while demonstrating what is possible in energy-efficient residential design. The result is a 26-story tower that established a new benchmark for high-rise construction.

From the outset, the project team pursued ambitious goals for energy efficiency, sustainability, and indoor environmental quality. SWA joined the team to help apply Passive House principles at an unprecedented scale. Our consultants oversaw certification efforts across multiple green building programs, including Passive House, and led accessibility compliance throughout design and construction.

One of the project’s greatest challenges was designing a building enclosure capable of meeting rigorous Passive House requirements while withstanding the high wind loads associated with a tall residential tower. The team developed a highly insulated and airtight façade system using custom prefabricated wall panels with integrated windows. Combined with triple-pane windows, energy recovery ventilation, and efficient variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump systems, these strategies were projected to reduce whole-building energy demand by 60-70% compared to conventional residential high-rise construction.

In 2017, The House at Cornell Tech achieved Passive House certification, becoming the tallest Passive House building in the world. It stands as a landmark example of how high-density housing can deliver exceptional energy performance, healthy indoor environments, and long-term sustainability.