Renovating Harvard’s Gund Hall

In the realm of architectural preservation and sustainable design, few projects exemplify the delicate balance between honoring architectural heritage and meeting modern energy standards as well as the recent renovation of Gund Hall at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. This ambitious project, which aimed to dramatically improve the building’s energy performance while maintaining its distinctive mid-twentieth century aesthetics, showcases the power of collaborative design-assist partnerships and innovative technical solutions.

Gund Hall, designed by Australian architect John Andrews (a GSD alumnus), with its striking glass-enclosed multi-level studio block known as the ‘trays’, has been a centerpiece of Harvard’s design education since its completion in 1972. However, like many buildings of its era, it faced significant challenges in meeting contemporary energy efficiency standards. The renovation project set an ambitious goal: to achieve a stringent overall weighted U-factor of 0.30, significantly improving the building’s thermal performance without compromising its iconic appearance.

OBE360, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope’s design-assist experts known for their innovative approach and collaborative ethos, played a crucial role in the project. OBE360 was engaged by glazing contractor A&A Window Products early in the design phase to consult on the project led by architects Bruner/Cott and general contractor Shawmut Design & Construction.

Read the full case study to see how the project team brought this building to today’s thermal performance standards.