Healthcare facilities do much more than just house patients and equipment. They provide an atmosphere where patients can heal, patients’ families can feel comfortable, and healthcare professionals can do their best to care for the community. Green Building is the practice of creating an environment using environmentally sustainable and health-focused design and construction methods. The ultimate goal is to provide a healthier, more productive indoor environment while lowering maintenance costs and reducing energy consumption. To achieve green design and construction, hospitals work with third-party, certification-based systems, such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Goals for 2026:
- Create walking trail around Ronald McDonald (or other) site.
- OR setbacks: Complete design this year
Recent Highlights:
Curtain Wall Project
Stony Brook University Hospital underwent the replacement of its existing end-of-life curtain wall system cladding on its (2) hospital bed towers (North & South). The intent of the project was to improve building efficiencies and enhance patient and staff safety and comfort. The existing system was creating stress on HVAC systems and the associated interior spaces. With over 150,000 vertical square feet of facade replac
ement the project’s goal was to modernize the curtain wall system while maximizing energy efficiencies. Through thermal analysis during the design documentation phase, our engineering consultants determined that the newly proposed system would increase the building’s energy efficiency by approximately 30%. Further analysis completed during pre-construction increased this number to approximately 40% through the selection of glass e-coatings, pressure plate material composition, and more robust sealants. With the project being approximately two-thirds complete at the time of this submission, the efficiency impacts can already be seen. The North Tower is 100% complete and thermal imaging evidence (attached) can now confirm that the building’s air separation has strengthened with temperature values showing a 20-25 degree difference between the newly installed system and the existing.
Furniture Planning
Stony Brook University Hospital strives to purchase furniture that eliminates the use of targeted chemicals including flame retardants, formaldehyde, per and poly-fluorinated compounds (PFAS), PVC (vinyl), and antimicrobials. In 2025, 93.6% of spending was allocated to healthy interiors. Executive Order 88 requires SUNY to reduce building energy use and report progress annually. We use data from Practice Greenhealth to support our annual reporting to SUNY, ensuring compliance with these requirements.
C&D Recycling
Despite a large increase in construction, and the resultant increase in construction and demolition (C&D) waste, care is taken to segregate and recycling C&D debris.
Recent Recognition:
In 2025, Stony Brook University Hospital was awarded the Green Building Circle of Excellence by Practice Greenhealth. The Green Building category is presented to hospitals that have demonstrated LEED and other green building achievements over the past five years. These hospitals emphasize policies that show commitment to or even requirement of LEED-level construction standards for all major new builds or renovations. Their achievements include energy and water efficiency, safer materials, regional sourcing, integration of nature and other mechanisms to create high-performance healing environments.
Team Leaders:
Karen Villanueva-Walsh, Michael Cullen, John Pluchino, Sharon Meinster