AGU HQ – Where science and sustainability meet. Showcasing Earth and Space Science and promoting Net-Zero Energy Tours

Abstract:

When the American Geophysical Union (AGU) decided to renovate their Washington, DC Headquarters, they wanted to create a space that would advance AGU’s mission and showcase Earth and space sciences and their impact on society. By including a public exhibit to display discoveries and contributions made by our members and embracing a net-zero energy design, AGU was able to be a physical embodiment of the spirit and values of scientific discovery for the betterment of humanity.

AGU's public exhibit allows visitors to learn who Earth and space scientists are and what they do through a display of artifacts and a series of digital interactives. The opening of the exhibit coincided with AGU’s centennial and served as a celebration of the past 100 years of science while also offering a look at the future of science.

In coordination with their engineers and architects, the building was designed to highlight the net-zero energy features in a way that would encourage and inform on how to incorporate sustainable strategies in more commercial office buildings. Since public tours began in April 2019, over 1000 guests have been on net-zero tour to learn about our building design strategies.

This presentation will go into how AGU uses our building to promote the work of our ESS community and how we intentionally designed a building to showcase the strategies used to create a net-zero energy building.