EYP Architecture & Engineering was selected to provide design services for a new world-class academic building for the State University of New York Maritime College (SUNY Maritime), located on its historic Fort Schuyler campus in Throggs Neck, NY. Situated at the water's edge and fully visible to watercraft plying the East River and Long Island Sound, the new facility will be a bright beacon announcing SUNY Maritime's flagship position in maritime education. In addition to serving SUNY Maritime's nationally recognized academic programs, the building will also be used as a conference center, providing a signature location for large groups to convene throughout the year.

Currently in the design phase, EYP's multidisciplinary team will provide architectural design, programming, academic space planning, MEP, and structural, engineering, and other related design services for geotechnical, civil, site, and utility infrastructure. Flexible and technologically advanced, the building is extremely adaptable. EYP is planning for facilities capable of supporting undergraduate teaching during the day, graduate and professional programs in the evenings, regimental assemblies, and conferences throughout the year. These facilities will include classrooms capable of supporting a variety of seating configurations to match different pedagogical styles; a large, reconfigurable, multi-purpose room with a pre-function area; formal and informal student interaction areas; departmental and faculty offices; conference rooms; an outdoor terrace; and an accessible roof.

EYP's contemporary design will be clad with technologically advanced glass and metal panels able to respond to the sometimes harsh marine environment. EYP will also use rusticated stone panels in order to visually connect the new building with historic stonework of Fort Schuyler, the oldest structure on campus. The new academic building, with its sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, will serve as an anchor for the entire campus, symbolizing SUNY Maritime's prominent role in the increasingly global arena of maritime education and maritime industry affairs.

Commented EYP Principal and Science + Technology Leader Andy Wong, AIA, NCARB, "The potential of this building to be a catalyst for the Maritime College is breathtaking. We're simply delighted to collaborate with Admiral John Craine and SUNY to strike the right balance of modernity and nautical tradition for the 21st century." He continued, "It is the rare building project that is designed to be viewed on land, from the water, and from the air?an instant landmark."

Taking cues from nautical design ? where form is driven by performance ? the building will deflect harsh winter winds and channel cooling summer winds to ventilate the building naturally. The design will bring significant energy cost savings to the University. The building's long southern exposure and thermal mass elements will allow for passive heating during the winter months, while a system of exterior sun shades will minimize summer solar heat gain. Additional sustainable strategies being explored include wind power, solar hot water heating, a geothermal heat pump loop, and a vegetative roof.