POSTPONED – Project Tour: NYU Rubin Hall EnerPHit Historic Retrofit

Please note: This tour has been postponed. We will announce the future date as soon as possible!

Join an exclusive construction site tour for a concise and insightful glimpse into the future of sustainable architecture as we explore FXCollaborative's transformation of Rubin Hall, a landmarked historic building at New York University, into a high-performing, energy-efficient structure. This project aims to become one of the world’s largest Passive House EnerPHit-certified buildings. Discover how this endeavor serves as a national model for decarbonizing existing building stock, addressing challenges in historic preservation, and implementing new, all-electric mechanical systems.

Safety and PPE procedure:
This will be a hardhat tour and attendees must bring their own personal protective equipment (hardhat, safety boots, and goggles).

Speakers:
Jena Rimkus, AIA, LEED GA, Associate, FXCollaborative
Cheryl Saldanha, PE, CPHD, Senior Project Manager, Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, Inc.
Michael Syracuse, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Partner, FXCollaborative

About the Speakers:
Jena Rimkus, AIA, LEED GA, is an Associate at FXCollaborative. She is a registered architect with experience across all phases of the architectural process, from design to construction administration, specializing in large-scale projects with complex integrated systems. Focusing on projects that have wide influence—such as multi-family residential, projects for educational institutions such as New York University and Columbia University, and urban projects that impact diverse populations—Rimkus appreciates the ability to make a positive difference through architecture. She enjoys the balance of the artistic and the technical, and the unique puzzles that each new project brings.

Cheryl Saldanha leads SGH’s Building Science and Passive House Practices and specializes in designing and evaluating building enclosures for new construction projects and existing building enclosure renovations. Her experience includes curtain wall, rainscreen facade, roofing, and waterproofing systems on a range of building types. Saldanha is adept at using multiple computer software packages to simulate building systems and details for thermal, condensation, whole-building energy, and daylighting analysis. Saldanha has co-chaired the New York City Chapter of the International Building Performance Simulation Association and participated on the NYC Commercial Energy Code Technical Advisory Committee for the last two code cycles. Saldanha has authored technical papers and lectured on topics ranging from embodied and operational carbon of facades, thermal bridging calculations, energy modeling, curtain wall spandrels, and condensation issues in building envelope systems. Saldanha was recently awarded Building Design + Construction magazine’s Top 40 under 40 for 2022.

Michael Syracuse, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a Partner at FXCollaborative. His work on programmatically driven performing arts, higher education, medical education, workplace, and commercial projects—both new construction and adaptive reuse—starts at a project’s inception and carries through construction and occupancy. Syracuse is driven by the unique culture of each client, combining craft, constructibility, and environmental responsibility to support a client’s mission. Syracuse’s work has encompassed some of New York City’s premiere educational and cultural institutions, including New York University, Juilliard School, Columbia University, and the Brooklyn Friends School. In addition to his architectural work, he stays connected to academia through his support of Rensselaer’s Integrated Design Development studio, offering office and project tours, and serving as a guest reviewer to give students insight into the professional practice of architecture.