The architecture firm of William McDonough, who co-developed the Cradle to Cradle design philosophy, unveiled the scheme for a new 20,000 square-meter academic building at the Universidad EAN in Bogota. The project marks the firm's first signature building in Latin America. They also hope the new building will be a catalyst for integrating more Cradle to Cradle Certified products in Colombia's building industry.

The building's main feature will be a colorful, perforated sun shade, which will be constructed using McDonough's WonderFrame™ technology. The panels will block glare while provide views, and energy, water, and resource use will be optimized. For natural ventilation, solar chimneys will draw air through the building and exhaust it at the roof. 

Featuring 10 floors above ground, the scheme comprises science labs, classrooms, administrative offices, seminar rooms, as well as a gym, indoor basketball court, a cafeteria, a 500-seat auditorium, and two underground levels of parking. People can also gather outdoors on the large ground-level plaza or the exterior terrace on the sixth floor. The project is aiming for a LEED Gold rating.

Project Team: William McDonough + Partners, Design Architect; AIA, Executive Architect; PAYC, Construction Manager; Acustec, Acoustic Design; ADRAR, Plumbing; AGR, Codes; Aqualab, Laboratory; EIG, C2C products; Gaia, Landscape; GBCG, HVAC/Electrical; MTS, Lighting; PyP Proyectos, Structural; SES, Energy Model; SETRI, LEED