The building design of Therkildsen works in harmony with natural systems to provide the best possible occupant experience while fostering a sense of community. 43% of regularly occupied spaces in the building have access to daylight, which has been shown to increase mood, wellbeing, and productivity in building occupants. Additionally, 76% of regularly occupied spaces have access to quality views out of windows, allowing students and staff to have a connection with nature even when working or studying.

Connection with nature is indeed a central feature of the design. Windows feature bird fritting patterns that significantly decrease needless bird collisions and deaths. Additionally, wood is a primary material of interior finishes, and the second floor is open to below, surrounded by wood grilles, both of which invoke a sense of biophilia, or nature-inspired design. The color of interior finishes were carefully selected to be red and yellow to foster a sense of place and reinforce the ISU identity. The open-style study spaces strengthen collaboration and community among students in the field, while prominently-located staircases which can be seen through the windows to the building encourage occupants to exercise and earned the project a LEED Innovation credit for Active Design.

• Enthalpy fixed plate heat exchanger

Reducing carbon and maximizing efficiency were goals that were implemented at every step of the design process. Analysis was conducted to determine how to reduce the carbon embodied in the building through optimization of material quantity and selection, and the resulting changes yielded a 14.6% reduction in embodied carbon.

Therkildsen features a very unique HVAC system, which helped contribute to the annual energy use reduction of 23.7%, equivalent to almost $50,000 a year in energy savings. The system utilizes an enthalpy fixed plate heat exchanger to pretreat building air. Unlike a standard plate heat exchanger, the enthalpy exchanger is able to transfer both sensible heat and latent heat, increasing the amount of energy recovered from the outgoing air.

The HVAC system also features cutting-edge occupancy sensors, reducing the waste that comes from heating, cooling, and ventilating rooms with no one in them as traditional buildings often do. In combination with careful scheduling, the sensors are able to adjust airflow, temperature, and ventilation rates based on occupancy, ensuring all occupants receive fresh, healthy, and comfortable air while maximizing efficiency and reducing waste. The efforts to implement innovative and efficient building systems are made all the more meaningful when considering that the students learning there may one day be designing efficient building systems in their future careers.

• 23.7% reduction in energy use

• Bike racks and public transit options

• 14.6% reduction in embodied carbon

• Biophilic, communal design

• Bird fritting to reduce collisions

• 76% access to quality outdoor views

• Native habitat plantings

LEED Gold | 2025 | 80,660 sq ft | Ames, Iowa

The Iowa State University Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building is an exemplary example of the intersection of function and sustainability. The building provides adaptable learning spaces including a manufacturing lab and shop facilities, immersive labs incorporating digital technologies, and additional active learning classrooms and faculty offices. With a dynamic design that optimizes efficiency, the building embodies the innovation that students will be learning inside its walls for years to come.

• 43% access to daylight

Architect: BNIM

Architect II: S/L/A/M Collaborative
MEP Engineer: Baker Group; Design Engineers

Civil: Shive Hattery

Structural: Raker Rhodes
Contractor: Story Construction

Commissioning: Cornerstone

LEED Consultant: C-Wise Design & Consulting

• 36% reduction in water use