Reimagining Sustainability in revit

By DMD (Doing Modern Design)

Mia Andreu – Project Manager, David Palma – Head of Design, & Dereck Soto – Head of Logistics

As part of NYU Tandon’s SLDP (Strategic Learning and Design Project), our team at DMD was commissioned to design a cutting-edge, environmentally conscious academic building that would redefine student life and sustainability in downtown Brooklyn. What began as a classroom assignment turned into a deep architectural exploration of green innovation, urban integration, and community impact.

Project Overview:

Our mission was to redesign the Jacobs Administrative Building, transforming it into a modern, LEED-accredited space that could accommodate the growth of NYU’s Brooklyn campus. The structure had to meet rigorous technical and architectural standards, from space efficiency to environmental impact, while remaining true to the urban identity of NYU.

Our Building at a GlancE

We designed a 6+ floor structure including:

8 × 20-student classrooms
10 × 40-student classrooms
2 × 100-student lecture halls
Dormitories for 100 students
Recreational green space
A fully operational café
Advanced electrical & plumbing systems
Security and ADA-compliant infrastructure

LEED: Building green from the ground up

We followed the six LEED categories to design a platinum-level sustainable building:

1. Location & Transportation

Accessible via public transit
Bike racks + minimal parking
Wheelchair-accessible halls, bathrooms, and elevators

2. Sustainable Sites

Outdoor sitting areas
Green roofs and shaded walkways
Light pollution and heat island reduction

3. Water Efficiency

Rainwater harvesting
Wastewater reuse system
Smart metering to reduce water waste

4. Energy & Atmosphere

LED lighting with occupancy sensors
Zoned HVAC and dimming lights
Energy-efficient solar-heat gain-reducing windows

5. Indoor Environmental Quality

Abundant daylight through smart window design
Thermal insulation and air quality systems
Mid elevation gap for extra window implementation

6. Innovation

Café with tech-friendly workspaces
Public-private access zones
Integrated Wi-Fi, turnstiles, and emergency systems

Takeaways

This wasn’t just a student project, it was a blueprint for how future universities can build sustainably, inclusively, and intelligently. The Jacobs Building redesign represents what happens when student experience, technical rigor, and environmental ethics meet.

“With the development of modern architecture, our goal is to ensure a healthy relationship between the innovation of new technologies and the preservation of the environment around us.” – DMD Mission Statement