The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music is one of the largest and best music schools located in a private university in the U.S., and one of the most comprehensive and relevant in all of higher education. The new complex inaugurated last year was made possible by the generosity of the school’s naming benefactors Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost. Designed by award-winning architects Yann Weymouth and HOK, and constructed by Skanska USA, the new facility boasts two buildings with 41,089 square feet of upscale teaching spaces and beautiful curb appeal. Located on UM’s Coral Gables campus at 5501 San Amaro Drive at Miller Drive, the Patricia Louise Frost Music Studios with triangle-shaped energy efficient windows is the first LEED® Platinum certified building project in the City of Coral Gables. Learn more
LEED® Platinum sustainable design features include:
Enlarge to view each LEED educational sign
• Modulated electrochromic glazing on windows to reduce glare and heat
• Mold- and stain- resistant framing material to protect air quality
• Light and heat sensors with override capabilities
• Active-chilled-beam, energy-efficient air conditioning technology
• Rooftop photovoltaic panels and rain water harvesting cisterns to dramatically reduce water and electricity usage
SMART GLASS - Electochromic ‘Dynamic’ Glass
The Frost studios installed SageGlass for all exterior windows. SageGlass is an advanced dynamic glass that can be electronically tinted or cleared to optimize daylight and improve the human experience in buildings. SageGlass manages the sunlight and heat that enter a building, significantly reducing energy consumption while improving people’s comfort and well-being. Daylight sensors maximize daylight and views, while reducing glare and keeping the building cool during periods of intense exposure. Separate override capabilities for each room allow precision tuning and optimum thermal comfort.
Anti-Smog Coating on Façades The buildings are framed in structural white precast concrete panels that include an admixture of titanium dioxide. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) aka ‘anti-smog’ coatings and concrete additives serve to help clean the air and make the exterior surfaces easier to clean over time. On average, every 10,000 square feet of building skin coated with TiO2 can offset emissions from 4 cars a day, equivalent to the work of 80 trees.
SOLAR ENERGY The North Studio is set to offset approx. 12.6% of its annual electricity consumption with onsite renewable energy via fixed tilt solar PV rooftop panels, rated at 50.8 kW DC (39.1 kW AC). In combination with the building’s other energy efficiency improvements, the North studio uses approx. 46% less energy than typical buildings in this climate zone. The South Studio is set to offset approx. 8.9% of its annual electricity consumption with onsite renewable energy via fixed tilt solar PV rooftop panels, rated at 20.8 kW DC (16 kW AC). In combination with the building’s other energy efficiency improvements, the South studio uses approx. 27% less energy than typical buildings in this climate zone.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING A large on-site cistern captures and treats rainwater for reuse through irrigation and to flush all toilets and urinals in the building, replacing the need to use potable (drinking) water for these uses. Overall, this reduces the project’s potable water usage by 87% for interior plumbing fixtures, and by 100% for irrigation needs.
