Following the "LEED": CAST Building at RIT

August 29, 2008 - In 2007, Parrone Engineering was commissioned as part of a design team consisting of M/E Engineering and SWBR Architects to perform site design services for a new building addition at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), one of the largest private universities in the country. This addition paved the way for an identifiable and distinctive home for the College of Applied Science and Technology, otherwise known as CAST. The CAST building is RIT's first "green" LEED gold-certified building. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance "green" buildings.

Parrone Engineering was specifically responsible for the demolition of existing parking areas and site design of the parking lot expansions in order to accomodate the increased traffic due to the building addition. "[Project Manager] Mike Montalto and company worked hard to accomodate the field changes that differed from our original design," said Catherine L. Ahern, Director of Engineering Services at RIT. In addition, the firm also provided the extension of underground utilities to service CAST. This work involved utility and infrastructure improvements that were necessary to support both CAST and future expansion in the northwest sector of academic buildings.

The CAST project was completed in April 2008 and has an estimated total value of $9 million. The innovative design, thoughtful engineering, and careful building practices behind this project ensure that it will have a lasting impact on the environment and the RIT community.