HouseZero > Snøhetta's design for Harvard University's Center for Green Buildings and Cities was no easy feat considering it was a refurbish of a house that predated the 1940s. With the goal to be a living laboratory and an energy-positive prototype to combat inefficient existing buildings, the house is intended to produce more energy over its lifetime than was used to renovate it. Forgoing an HVAC system, the building will adjust itself to reach thermal comfort targets for its occupants using nearly 300 sensors embedded throughout that will collect millions of data points on such variables as outdoor air temperature, rain, and indoor carbon dioxide levels for researchers to better understand how buildings work. Producing zero carbon emissions, the project also boasts 100 percent natural ventilation-helped by an outdoor solar chimney and a spiral stairwell dressed in hexagonal panels finished by students at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. In addition, the open floorplan and lighter-colored materials means the house doesn't need electric light during the day. hospitalitydesign.com March/April 2019 159http://www.hospitalitydesign.com