SUNY-ESF - Gateway Center

The Gateway Center at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is an innovative project designed to embody the institution's commitment to sustainability and environmental education.

The Gateway Center at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is an innovative project designed to embody the institution's commitment to sustainability and environmental education. Completed by Architerra with collaboration from Atelier Ten and other consultants, the building earned recognition as an AIA COTE Top Ten Green Project in 2014. Its notable features include a combined heat and power (CHP) plant powered by clean biomass wood pellets sourced from sustainably managed forests, aligning with the university's goal of carbon neutrality.

Nick Mira contributed significantly to the design and development of the Gateway Building at SUNY-ESF, a landmark in sustainable architecture. While at Architerra, Nick worked from the design development phase through construction documentation and played a pivotal role in shaping the initial concept.

The building is a model of environmental leadership, utilizing a micro steam turbine energy plant powered by clean biomass from wood pellets sourced from SUNY-ESF’s forest lands. This innovative system co-generates heat and electricity, achieving net-zero energy while providing additional electricity and hydronic pre-heating to neighboring campus buildings.

Awarded an AIA COTE National Top 10 distinction, the Gateway Building embodies SUNY-ESF’s mission of sustainability, education, and natural preservation. This experience reflects Nick’s commitment to high-performance, environmentally responsible design and his ability to execute impactful, award-winning architecture.

The CHP system generates electricity and heat, distributing these to neighboring campus buildings, while capturing and recycling waste ash as soil nutrients. The building also serves as a teaching tool, with accessible system displays and monitoring for research. Its high-performance envelope includes features like triple-glazed windows, a rainscreen system, and regionally sourced materials, emphasizing efficiency and sustainability.

The Gateway Center’s flexible design accommodates various uses, from large gatherings to smaller events, enhancing its functionality as a community and educational hub.

For more information about our experience and process as architect on educational design, please visit this page.