Sustainability in Architecture: Stanley Manne Research Institute
In the sixth installment of our Sustainability in Architecture series, Sustainability in Architecture: Stanley Manne Research Institute, we sat down with Daniel Heuberger, Partner; Brian Nesin, Senior Associate; and Karin Hostettler, Project Designer, to discuss how the project brings together advanced scientific research, sustainable building systems, and design centered on the needs of its users.
Daniel Heuberger introduces the goals behind the project, reflecting on Stanley Manne’s vision of creating a university-level, professional laboratory for high school students. Located at the Bronx High School of Science, the Research Institute expands access to hands-on research, providing students with the space and resources to pursue long-term experiments and prepare for future academic and professional opportunities.
Brian Nesin describes the design strategies that support the building’s specialized program and sustainable goals. The facility operates entirely on electric systems, with an energy-recovery ventilation system that captures energy from outgoing air and uses it to help condition incoming air. This approach reduces the energy required to meet the laboratory’s demanding ventilation needs, integrating sustainability while making scientific research possible.
Finally, Karin Hostettler shares lessons learned through the project, emphasizing the importance of understanding who will occupy a building and how they will use it. Learning about the laboratory’s equipment and its operational requirements helped inform a design that balances complexity with comfortable, functional spaces for students and educators.
Through these perspectives, the Stanley Manne Research Institute demonstrates Dattner Architects’ commitment to creating sustainable educational spaces that support discovery, expand opportunity, and respond to the people they serve.
Thank you to The Bronx High School of Science and The Science Survey for the additional imagery and footage featured in this video.
