Earth Week 2022

In the lead-up to Earth Day on Friday, April 22, New York Tech will host a week-long series of events as part of its institutional commitment to sustainability. Long an advocate for sustainable practices and programs, the university introduced a sustainability action plan in 2021 that includes initiatives for sustainable and alternative energy, water stewardship, a bike share program, sustainability town halls, and more.

This year, Earth Week at New York Tech will kick off on Tuesday, April 19, with a virtual presentation by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang on “Conservation, Ecology, and New York Tech’s new BRIC Building.” The MacArthur fellow and architect for the Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York will talk about her design for the new Biomedical Research and Innovation Center (BRIC) on the Long Island campus and discuss her commitment to sustainability and the ecology, which play a key role in the BRIC’s design. 

On Wednesday, April 20, Tord Wingren, CEO of BrainLit and co-creator of Bluetooth technology, will present “Sustainable Light” via Zoom and discuss his work in the technology field and how technology overlaps with wellness, health, creativity, and collaboration. Examples of BrainLit’s Alven lighting will be on display in 1855 Broadway on the New York City campus and in Salten Hall on the Long Island campus.

“This generation of students is completely aware that climate change has transformed the way we all need to live our lives, and for them, sustainability is like air—it’s expected and needed,” says Suzanne Musho, AIA, NCARB, chief architect and vice president for real estate development and sustainable capital planning. “At New York Tech, we’ve started significant capital projects to make our campuses greener and more efficient.”

In the classroom, New York Tech’s architecture and engineering programs are preparing students by focusing on climate and sustainability. The master’s in architecture, urban design program focuses on the intersection of urban forms, applied technology, climate resilience, ecosystems, and socio-cultural aspects of cities such as New York and other diverse urban metropolitan regions around the world. In the advanced design studios, students learn how to be an agent of change by responding to critical issues within the global context of 21st-century urbanism. Students in the master’s in energy management program gain the essential tools and knowledge that energy engineers need to develop and implement policy to improve energy efficiency, conducting research in the Energy and Green Technologies Lab.

Additional Earth Week 2022 programming will be led by the College of Engineering and Sciences, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the School of Architecture and Design, and Student Life, including:

• A conversation with practicing architects and adjunct faculty led by Alessandro Melis, Ph.D., professor and IDC Foundation endowed chair, on the values of collaboration in constructing “community,” including the advantages of instilling sustainability, equity, and livability into a locale to create better, more cohesive places to live.
• A DIY craft for New York City students and food fair in Long Island, with giveaways on both campuses.
• A virtual demonstration by Progetto Arte Poli, a Venice studio inspired by the Renaissance workshops, where today as in the past, different techniques coexist and intertwine for the creation of unique works. Those who attend the virtual event will see the design process from the idea to choosing materials to installation, and the importance of history to sustainability.
• A presentation by Antonio Saillant (B.S. ’90), a sustainable film producer, who will talk about sustainable initiatives in film, television, and on Broadway, covering practices from energy to waste and beyond.
• Activities at the Vancouver campus will include a workshop on sustainable practices by energy management students, a bottle drive to fund a tree planting, and a vegan cooking class with a focus on sustainable cooking and meal prep practices.
• Tree plantings in locations near the Long Island and New York City campuses.

Learn more about Earth Week and register for events.