The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries
Beacon, New York
The Beacon Institute’s global center for the study and conservation of waterways is housed in this LEED® Gold adaptive reuse project on the banks of the Hudson River. In repurposing and expanding a 19th Century brickworks, Gensler took a “whole building” design approach to integrate green and comprehensive IT and AV technologies into the center. The resulting spaces are both a catalyst for the Institute’s mission and a living laboratory for testing and implementing sustainable building systems, including geothermal tempering, natural ventilation, and a green roof and composting toilets. The facility also supports exhibitions about the center, global research and remote learning.