Catalyst For Change: Architecture and Its Impact

L. Michael Goldsmith Lecture

Handel Architects' residential tower for Cornell University's new Roosevelt Island Campus will include 350 residences for students, staff, and faculty. The 26-story building is part of Cornell's 2.1-million-square-foot technology campus in New York City, a partnership between Cornell and Technion–Israel Institute of Technology. Cornell Tech Residential is being designed to Passive House (PH) standards, and when complete will be the tallest and largest residential building in the world built to these standards. PH is the strict international building standard that drastically reduces energy consumption while creating a healthier and more comfortable living environment for a fraction of residents' usual energy costs.

On Monday, April 11, Gary Handel (B.Arch. '78) FAIA and Blake Middleton (B.Arch. '78, M.Arch. '81) FAIA LEED AP, will present case studies of the work of Handel Architects in New York City, Boston, and San Francisco, culminating with a discussion about the design for the world's tallest Passive House building at the Cornell Tech campus. They will be joined by Jennifer Klein, assistant director for strategic capital partnerships at Cornell Tech, who is overseeing the development of the new campus.

Handel is the founding partner and managing principal of Handel Architects. Since starting the practice in 1994, Handel has overseen its growth to a firm of more than 150 architects, designers, and planners around the world. His designs have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects, the Urban Land Institute, the Society of American Registered Architects, and the Chicago Athenaeum, among others. He received his bachelor of architecture degree from Cornell University in 1978, and has lectured at numerous universities.

Middleton is a partner at New York City-based Handel Architects. Notable projects designed by Middleton include The Ritz-Carlton in downtown Boston, two new academic and performance buildings for the Boston Conservatory, the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Natatorium in New York City, and renovation of the historic Santa Barbara Bowl amphitheater. Middleton is currently serving as the designer of the new Millennium Tower at Downtown Crossing in Boston. Middleton holds a bachelor of architecture (1978) and master's in architectural science (1981) from Cornell University.

Jennifer Klein oversees Cornell Tech's partnerships with third party developers and other capital partners for the Roosevelt Island campus design and development. She also manages relationships with government agencies as it relates to capital projects. Prior to joining Cornell Tech, Klein was the vice president for capital planning and construction at Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, where she oversaw design and construction of an 85-acre waterfront park along the East River. In her role there, she was responsible for the capital planning of Brooklyn Bridge Park and championing the realization of sustainable park design within the urban environment and responsible construction practices. She received a masters of public administration from New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and a bachelor of arts in american studies from American University.