MIT has made a commitment to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030. In order to meet this commitment, energy use by existing campus buildings must be assessed and paths forward for energy use reduction determined. This is no small feat for an institution replete with buildings constructed anywhere from the early 1900’s through 1990’s, many of which house energy-intensive laboratories, where health and safety requirements dictate exhaust and fresh air requirements.

One such structure is MIT’s Ralph Landau Building—also known as Building 66. As a subconsultant to CMTA Engineers, Finegold Alexander, engaged through its FA Energy Division, provided envelope and architectural consulting for a deep energy audit of the building. Designed by IM Pei and constructed in 1976, Building 66 functions as the main research building for Course 10, the Chemical Engineering department. It is also a historically significant campus building, being one of four I.M. Pei-designed buildings on the campus. The primary question(s) posed given the existing systems, including a recent renovation: what approaches could be taken to reduce the GHG emissions that still support researcher wellness and without a wholesale building renovation?