This is the Syracuse Center of Excellence, CoE, designed by Toshiko Mori Architect. Many architects have designed science labs, but this is a unique building full of labs because the focus of the CoE is making buildings better. As they put it, the mission of CoE is to “create innovations in environmental and energy technologies” that will eventually be incorporated into the built environment. But in a very real way, the building is a giant lab unto itself, with experimental design features like collecting snow in the winter and using it to help cool the building or elevators that generate energy as they descend. The building was dedicated last week, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the area, they’re happy to give you a tour to show off the new building and the experiments going on inside.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the building, more about architect Toshiko Mori’s work or more about the history of women in Architecture, watch this excellent video of all three things happening at once. It’s an hour and a half long, so I hope you’re on your spring break. The part about the CoE starts at 1:09:40.