In alignment with the State of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), BuildSmart 2025, and SUNY’s 1B-2 directive, Alfred State College committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. With 112 campus buildings totaling over 1.7 million square feet, this effort required a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to energy planning.

To support these ambitious goals, the State University Construction Fund (SUCF) and Alfred State College partnered with Wendel to develop a Clean Energy Master Plan. Central to this effort was an updated campus-wide energy audit focused on understanding how the College uses energy to heat, cool, and power its facilities. Wendel worked closely with campus staff and SUCF to gather extensive building data, analyze energy loads, and perform walkthroughs that informed a deep energy retrofit strategy. The collaboration and insight provided by Alfred State personnel played a critical role in the study’s success.

The resulting Clean Energy Master Plan evaluated three strategic pathways toward electrification and long-term energy reduction. Each option considered infrastructure capacity, space constraints, proximity of buildings, and opportunities to leverage simultaneous heating and cooling loads. The study emphasized replacing fossil fuel-based HVAC systems with high-efficiency electrified systems, reducing building energy loads through targeted Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs), and identifying the campus’s solar generation potential.

Wendel’s analysis helped establish a strong foundation for project development, delivering a design basis for transformative HVAC system upgrades and deep energy savings. Beyond operational improvements, the plan positions Alfred State as a leader in campus sustainability, enhancing its reputation, opening doors to funding opportunities, and creating hands-on learning environments for students interested in clean energy and climate solutions.

With the selected strategy now in place, Alfred State College is well on its way to becoming a carbon-neutral campus and a model for climate leadership in higher education.

The Dunkirk City School District wanted to utilize NYSERDA’s Clean Green Schools Initiative Program to assess energy efficiency measures and clean energy technologies at its facilities. This initiative provides funding for eligible Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 schools to evaluate energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies that help reduce annual energy, operational, and maintenance costs.

Wendel assisted the District in evaluating potential upgrades through a detailed energy study of eight buildings totaling 478,820 SF. This study identified possible cost savings, incentives, and greenhouse gas reductions, which will aid in making informed decisions regarding future project design and implementation.

The District is in the early stages of planning a capital improvement program encompassing all buildings, prioritizing energy measures. Wendel collected historic energy consumption data for the eight selected buildings to establish an energy usage baseline. On-site investigations documented existing conditions and identified energy-saving opportunities. Wendel developed energy savings modeling calculations for each Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) using this data and existing mechanical and electrical system drawings. We also collaborated with vendors and applied internal estimates based on previous construction projects to generate cost estimates. We also performed energy calculations and economic analyses to evaluate these measures’ feasibility, costs, potential energy impact, and economic analysis of the return on investment.

Upgrades to the building envelope and clean cooling systems will enhance occupant comfort at a lower cost. The HVAC controls allow for a more dynamic, customizable, and balanced system, which leads to more uniform building conditioning. Retro-commissioning ensures that systems communicate effectively with one another, preventing conflicts during transitional months. The solar energy system will provide renewable energy, helping to reduce the District’s greenhouse gas emissions. Our team assisted the District with utilizing NYSERDA funding through the Clean Green Schools program to cover the entire cost of the study, $79,400.

Engaging in an energy study like this is incredibly beneficial. Having a knowledgeable team like Wendel ensures a smooth process and meaningful results. For us it was a no brainer to accept the NYSERDA funding to get the study completed. The bonus was that we already had a working relationship with Wendel. That helped us get going quickly. The transition to a clean energy environment is the path we are on. The ability to do it more efficiently and effectively having the study completed is priceless.

– Timothy L. Abbey, Director of Facilities III, Dunkirk City School District

Wendel is leading the planning and design for a significant addition to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, located within a historic Frederick Law Olmsted park that features an iconic glasshouse designed by Lord & Burnham. With the demand for programs, events, and community engagement at an all-time high, the Gardens is undertaking a major expansion that will enhance its mission, modernize the visitor experience, and extend its impact for generations to come.

The new addition will introduce a café, gift shop, event spaces, and an expanded exhibit hall dedicated to pollinator education and engagement. This expansion will provide enhanced functionality to support the Gardens’ mission and ensure long-term growth.

Wendel’s planning and design efforts include a relocated Welcome Center, new Learning Labs, and The Canopy, a climate-controlled event space that overlooks a lush new Central Courtyard. The addition will also feature a café, an expanded gift shop, visitor lockers, and accessible amenities. A new Solarium will host intimate events, while a renovated Horticulture Center will better support staff, gardeners, and volunteers. Outdoors, over 90,000 square feet of gardens and landscape will be revitalized, offering year-round opportunities to connect with nature.

Sustainability is a central focus of this project. It aims for at least LEED Silver certification while implementing strategies to minimize environmental impacts. Energy reduction methods will include daylight harvesting, natural ventilation, both passive and active solar design, ground-source heat pumps, earth sheltering, and optimizing the building envelope. Water usage will be reduced through stormwater and graywater reclamation systems, as well as by installing high-efficiency low-flow fixtures. The project will also address material impact by reusing demolition materials, sourcing locally, and selecting products with low embodied carbon.

This expansion reflects the thoughtful evolution of a beloved public space. It will enhance the visitor experience, broaden programming possibilities, and continue the Botanical Gardens’ legacy as a place of learning, beauty, and environmental stewardship.

Bellevue Hospital is a 2,276,300 square foot facility located on 1st Avenue in New York City. Wendel initially undertook this project as a turnkey design and implementation effort to upgrade the hospital’s lighting systems to LED technology. This work included replacing and retrofitting 28,200 fixtures to LED, and adding lighting controls. The extensive effort was staged and phased to minimize disruption to the hospital’s daily activities.

In the second phase of this project, Wendel was tasked with designing upgrades to the HVAC air distribution systems serving the hospital’s operating rooms. This scope involved rebuilding four existing air handling units (AHUs) with a capacity of 18,500 CFM while avoiding disruption to normal facility operations. Components of this modification included replacing the existing supply fans, chilled water cooling coils, steam heating coils, air pre-filtration equipment, reapplying internal epoxy coatings, and replacing control and shut-off valves. Indoor air quality upgrades included filtration enhancements and replacement of humidification units. Four existing exhaust fans located on the 22nd floor were also replaced.

Wendel designed and coordinated the installation with temporary air handling units, allowing our team to execute the project without significantly impacting facility operations. These temporary units would also provide redundancy in the event of any future maintenance needed for the four operating HVAC units. The measures taken for both the lighting and HVAC systems provided significant savings for the hospital.

Wendel’s performed an energy audit, developed design and construction documents including plans and specifications, managed the bid process including bid package development, coordinating contractor walk-throughs, bid tabulation, and award recommendations, provided technical support throughout construction, oversaw construction management and coordination of the construction trades, and conducted start-up, commissioning, and operator training.

The estimated construction value of this project is $15,000,000 with estimated savings at $915,00 annually.