OMEGA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Rhinebeck, New York, United States of America | Living Certified
Located within the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies Campus in Rhinebeck, NY, the Omega Center for Sustainable Living has taken extensive measures to extend its educational offerings far beyond the campus itself. The Omega Center exceeds the Living Building Challenge requirements for an annual open day by opening its doors to the public and hosting regular building tours. Between May and October, the center hosts over 200 scheduled tours (with additional options for private educational tours throughout the year) to a wide variety of groups including architects, teachers, and elected officials.
Since opening its doors in 2009, the Omega Center has reported a steady increase in visitors, currently reporting over 4,500 visitors annually. Having recently celebrated ten years of operation, the Omega Center continues to maintain a strong commitment to education and the promotion of regenerative design.
The Omega Center for Sustainable Living uses detailed signage and innovative wastewater systems as educational tools during regular tours. Image by Farsid Assassi, courtesy of BNIM Architects.R.W. KERN CENTER
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America | Living Certified
Early in the design process, the project team committed to making the R.W. Kern Center, located within the Hampshire College Campus in Amherst, MA, a catalyst for dialogue about and advancement of sustainable building. The project is continuously living up to that commitment through a variety of educational offerings including classes, community events, and ongoing tours.
Going above and beyond the Living Building Challenge requirement for educational signage, the building systems were also intentionally designed to be visible to guests, including rainwater reservoirs, timber framing, and water and energy distribution systems. Furthermore, the project has been incorporated into the curriculum for a variety of classes at Hampshire College, including engineering, biology and social justice classes.
Visitors are welcome in the common areas anytime that the building is open and a digital display both on site and on the building’s website allows the public to continually see the building systems’ performance in action. The project is truly an example of what good looks like, especially through ongoing educational efforts to ensure that the lessons learned on this project can inspire and inform future sustainable buildings.
Visitors are welcome in the common areas of the R.W. Kern Center, which includes educational signage, interactive displays, and visible building systems. Image by Robert Benson.