Duan Family Center receives third-party zero-energy verification

August 27, 2026

The Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University is now zero energy verified by the New Buildings Institute, which recently added the building to its Getting to Zero Buildings Database.

The database features buildings from across North America that have been assessed by the Oregon-based non-profit as leaders in ultra-low or zero-energy building performance. The 19-storey Duan Family Center is one of only 202 verified buildings and the largest higher education facility in the database.

The Duan Family Center is the largest operationally fossil fuel-free building in Boston. 31 closed-loop geothermal boreholes leverage the Earth’s thermal capacity to provide 90 percent of its heating and most of its cooling. Its electricity demand is met entirely with renewable sources, including wind and solar.

Operational energy consumption is minimized through a series of design approaches, including a triple-glazed envelope and sun-shading louvres that reduce energy use by 30 percent. Eight green roofs help reduce the heat island effect. Additional strategies include high-efficiency HVAC and outside-air heat recovery systems.

In 2025, Boston University and the Duan Family Center were recognized at the inaugural Boston Climate Leader Awards. The building is also a recipient of the 2025 Green GOOD DESIGN Award, among numerous other awards recognizing design and sustainable performance.

The building’s success is the result of Boston University’s ambition and the close collaboration of designers, engineers, and other consultants, including BR+A, Transsolar, and Suffolk Construction.

The project team also included Acentech, Dot Dash, Entro, Entuitive, Haley & Aldrich, Jensen Hughes, LeMessurier Consultants, Lerch Bates, Nitsch Engineering, Ricca Design Studios, Richard Burck Associates Inc., Robbie McCabe Consulting, RWDI Inc., Soberman Engineering, The Green Engineer, and Turner & Townsend.

Read more about the Duan Family Center’s zero-energy verification.

(Image credit: Nic Lehoux)