Tour of the R.W. Kern Center

📍 Hampshire College – Amherst, MA
🗓 April 23
🕔 Gather at 5:00 PM | Tour begins at 5:30 PM

Join us for a guided tour of the award-winning R.W. Kern Center at Hampshire College — one of the most environmentally advanced academic buildings in the country.

Certified under the Living Building Challenge (LBC) in 2018, the 16,940-square-foot Kern Center was designed to be good for both people and the planet. This tour will explore what it takes to create a building that operates within the natural limits of its site while supporting occupant health, comfort, and long-term resilience.

What You’ll See & Learn

Net-Positive Energy
The building produces 100% of its energy on-site with a 118 kW rooftop solar array. We’ll discuss energy use intensity (just 23.4 kBTU/sf/year — approximately 86% lower than a typical campus building), passive design strategies, high-performance envelope systems (R-40 walls, R-60 roof), and real-time energy monitoring.

Water Independence
The Kern Center uses 90% less water than a comparable building and operates entirely within its own water cycle. Rainwater is captured, filtered, stored (up to a three-month supply), treated on-site, and reused. Composting toilets eliminate flush water use, and graywater is naturally treated through interior planters before returning to the ground.

Materials & Healthy Interiors
Learn how the project team prioritized local, low-carbon, and non-toxic materials. From FSC-certified timber framing and cellulose insulation to Ashfield schist stone and reclaimed wood, every material was carefully vetted to avoid harmful “Red List” substances and reduce embodied carbon.

Site & Landscape Integration
Built on a previously developed campus site, the landscape mimics an indigenous meadow ecosystem with native plantings and rain gardens that manage stormwater naturally — no conventional storm sewer required.

Performance Transparency
A public dashboard tracks energy, water use, and indoor conditions, reinforcing the building’s commitment to accountability and education.

Building Snapshot

• Gross Area: 16,940 sf

• Construction Completed: 2016

• LBC Certified: April 2018

• Construction Cost: $7.6M as built

• Cost per SF: $448 (comparable to typical campus construction)

• Primary Uses: Offices, classrooms, café, and gallery

This tour is ideal for facilities professionals, engineers, sustainability leaders, architects, and anyone interested in high-performance buildings and integrated energy strategy.

Come see what it really takes to design a building that gives back more than it takes.