A hub for Collaboration at boston university
The Frederick S. Pardee School for Global Studies at Boston University is set to become a global leader in interdisciplinary collaboration. Designed by the renowned architecture studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the new 70,000-square-foot timber building will act as a central hub for research and strategy development, focusing on sustainable economic, social, and environmental futures. Positioned on a former parking lot in the heart of the university’s campus, the Pardee School’s new home will both increase urban density and enhance open space.
Sean A. Gallagher, Project Leader and Director of Sustainable Design at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, emphasizes the importance of the project in advancing sustainable urban development. ‘We are thrilled to be part of Boston University’s effort to make urban environments healthier, more vibrant places to live,’ Gallagher writes. ‘The Pardee School of Global Studies marks a significant step toward densifying urban centers in a carbon-neutral way.’
visualizations courtesy DS+R
a flexible tower by diller scofidio + renfro
Boston University’s Pardee School building will stand as a demonstration of efficient land use and design innovation by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. With its vertically stacked structure, the design team limits the building footprint to just ten percent of the site, leaving room for a future central green space that will benefit the university‘s entire campus. The building will accommodate a variety of spaces including event and conference rooms, classrooms, faculty offices, and social areas. A key feature of the design is the integration of double-height ‘living rooms’ that serve as informal gathering spaces for students and faculty, encouraging community interaction and collaboration. These spaces are linked by a ‘social stair,’ creating a visual and physical network of activity that will be showcased through the building’s facade.
the Pardee School for Global Studies will be a 70,000-square-foot building at Boston University
mass timber architecture for the pardee school
The Pardee School for Global Studies at Boston University will be a model of sustainable architecture, reflecting the university’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The building’s all-electric, fossil fuel-free design features a monolithic massing that minimizes material use and energy loss. By opting for a mass timber structural frame instead of traditional steel and concrete, the project will reduce its embodied carbon by an impressive 87%. The entire structure is also triple-glazed, with integrated solar screening to limit solar heat gain while maximizing natural light in interior spaces, ensuring a high level of energy efficiency.
One of the project’s standout features is its ability to significantly reduce heating and cooling loads. Over 85% of the building’s spaces will not require perimeter heating or cooling, thanks to its highly efficient massing and envelope design. The roof will be outfitted with solar-ready infrastructure, aligning with Boston University’s renewable energy goals and further reinforcing the school’s commitment to sustainability.
it will serve as a central hub for interdisciplinary collaboration on global issues
the design reduces the building footprint to just 10% of the site
the building will be all-electric and fossil fuel-free to promote sustainability
mass timber construction reduces the building’s embodied carbon by 87%
double-height ‘living rooms’ will encourage community interaction
over 85% of the spaces will not require perimeter heating or cooling
project info:
name: Frederick S. Pardee School for Global Studies
architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) | @diller_scofidio_renfro
location: Boston, Massachusetts
client: Boston University | @bostonu
size: 70,000 gross square feet (6,500 square meters)
completion: estimated 2027
visualizations: courtesy DS+R
partners: Benjamin Gilmartin, Elizabeth Diller, Charles Renfro, Ricardo Scofidio
project leader: Sean Gallagher
project team: Eduardo Ponce, Shiwoo Yu, Anna Goga
structural engineer: Le Messurier
MEP, IT, life safety, code consultant: Consentini Associates
landscape: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
exterior, sustainability consultant: Thornton Tomasetti
civil engineer: Nitsch Engineering
lighting design: Tillotson Design Associates
Acoustics, AV: threshold acoustics
signage: Studio Blue
vertical transportation: Syska Hennessy Group
cost estimating: Dharam Consulting
