Boston, Massachusetts, USA

This 19-story, 345,000-square-foot building, designed by KPMB Architects and Richard Burck Associates is the Boston University’s first LEED Platinum project featuring cantilevered volumes rotating around a central core, providing each department with unique identities and outdoor terraces.

Named the Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences, the building has been awarded a 2025 Green Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

The interior promotes collaboration through a five-story atrium and interconnected staircases, all illuminated by natural light from triple-glazed curtain walls.

The landscape architecture complements the building’s innovative design.

The site includes eight green roofs planted with native grasses, sedges, and wildflowers, which help reduce the urban heat island effect and manage stormwater runoff.

Additionally, the building is elevated three feet above the Charles River dam’s elevation to protect critical systems from potential flooding.

After schematic design, the project was placed on hold in 2014. During this time, the academic program expanded, and the university adopted a robust Climate Action Plan. Re-engaged in 2018, the project team revised the program and schematic design to meet LEED Platinum standards and ensure the building would be operationally fossil fuel-free. Construction was approved in 2019, coinciding with the drilling of 31 geothermal boreholes.

The building’s LEED Platinum certification reflects its all-electric, operationally fossil fuel-free design.

A geothermal system extending 1,500 feet underground provides energy-efficient heating and cooling.

To avoid flooding, the Center is elevated five feet above Boston’s sea level rise guidelines and 1.25 feet above the university’s Elevation of Resilience.

Permeable pavers manage stormwater, while eight rooftop gardens mitigate the urban heat island effect, retain rainwater, and provide natural insulation.

The triple-glazed façade, enhanced by vertical and diagonal louvers, reduces energy consumption by 30%.

Fresh air delivered over chilled beams optimizes indoor environmental quality, while low-to-zero carbon-emitting materials underscore the sustainable interior.

First-floor finishes were minimized by prioritizing polished concrete floors complemented by casual collaborative spaces with area carpets and furniture.

Flooring materials were carefully selected to reduce or eliminate volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing, ensuring a healthier indoor environment.

The project exemplifies rigorous sustainability practices, achieving LEED Platinum certification, and avoiding natural gas, tropical hardwoods, and vinyl, with all wood FSC-certified.

The Center prioritizes inclusivity and accessibility, creating equitable spaces for a diverse population of users.

Public-facing amenities, including a café, incubator hub, and event spaces, extend its impact beyond the academic community, fostering stronger connections between the University and the city.

Expansive views and abundant natural light reinforce the connection between occupants and the surrounding environment.

Biophilic elements such as rooftop gardens and terraces promote well-being, underscoring the design’s human-centric approach.

Economically, its geothermal system and energy-efficient strategies ensure long-term operational savings, with sustainability features adding less than 1% to construction costs.

Project: Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences at Boston University
Architects: KPMB Architects
Lead Architects: Bruce Kuwabara, Marianne McKenna, Luigi LaRocca, and Paulo Rocha
Landscape Architects: Richard Burck Associates Inc.
General Contractor: Suffolk Construction
Design Team: Lucy Timbers, David Smythe, Kael Opie, Tyler Loewen, Melissa Ng, Matt Krivosudsky, Tyler Hall, Amin Monsefi, Victor Garzon, Samantha Hart, Nicholas Wong, Olivia di Filice, Jason Chang, Fotini Pitoglou, Carolyn Lee, Kayley Mullings, and Arminé Tadevosyan
Client: Boston University
Photographers: Tom Arban Photography and Nic Lehoux