Albuquerque Launches Cool Box Challenge Pilot Project At CNM: A Hands-On Look At High-Performance Buildings

SCIENCE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A unique, hands-on demonstration of building science and climate-conscious design is coming to the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) campus this summer. The ABQ Cool Box Challenge, a prototype project developed through collaboration between CNM, the Phius Alliance Southwest, the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE), and the Sustainability Department at Hartman + Majewski Design Group, invites the public to witness the dramatic difference insulation and air tightness can make in the performance of buildings.

The installation will begin at 12 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, with the ice blocks placed inside the boxes, followed by a kickoff presentation at 2 p.m. The boxes will remain sealed until Thursday, July 17, when they will be uncovered at 2 p.m., to reveal the results. All events will take place at CNM’s Quad open area, located at the corner of Coal Avenue and University Boulevard.

The challenge features two structures—each about 4 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet. One is built to current building code standards, while the other follows Passive Building (Phius) insulation standards. Inside each box: 80 pounds of ice. Over two days in the summer Albuquerque sun, the team will be able to track how much ice remains in each structure, providing a striking visual demonstration of how building envelopes affect comfort, efficiency, and energy use.

“This pilot project is an educational tool,” architect Xavier Obando says, one of the project’s lead organizers. “Our hope is that it evolves into an annual event that actively engages students across disciplines and sparks a wider understanding of what makes buildings perform better.”

While this first prototype is being constructed primarily by Chris Blaze at LivLab Studios, in collaboration with Ridgeline Supply Co., architect Chris Mancuso and intern architects Anne Martinez and Andres Reyes at the H+Mdg, future iterations of the challenge are envisioned as a fully integrated educational opportunity. The goal is to engage CNM’s architectural drafting, construction trades, and film and digital media programs, giving students real-world experience in planning, building, and documenting high-performance structures. Film students, in particular, will be encouraged to create documentary-style stories that highlight both the technical and human impact of sustainable building practices.

Architect and CNM lead instructor Joseph Andrade is coordinating the college’s involvement, helping establish the foundation for expanded student participation in future years.

The Cool Box Challenge also raises awareness about a pressing global issue: over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the operation of buildings. Yet, much of that impact can be reduced simply by improving the building envelope—adding insulation, tightening air barriers, and eliminating thermal bridges. These passive strategies require no electricity, no maintenance, and no moving parts. They don’t wear out, break, or become obsolete—and they don’t add to monthly utility bills.

“Better envelopes reduce the need for mechanical systems to begin with,” Obando adds. “When you get the envelope right, the comfort and savings are built in for the life of the building.”

This prototype is the first in a series intended to explore all five principles of Passive Building design—including high-performance windows, heat recovery ventilation, and thermal-bridge-free construction—while sparking community interest in designing buildings that are efficient, resilient, and built to last.

Partners:

Search
LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems