CNM, American Institute of Architects Team Up for ‘Cool Box Challenge’

A unique, hands-on demonstration of building science and climate-conscious design is coming to the Main Campus of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). The ABQ Cool Box Challenge, a prototype project developed through a collaboration between CNM and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), is inviting students and the general 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. on Tuesday, July 15, with ice blocks being placed inside 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.

The events will take place at CNM’s outdoor Quad area next to the Student Resource Center on Main Campus, located near the corner of Coal Avenue and Buena Vista Drive.

The challenge features two structures – each about 4-feet by 4-feet wide and 5-feet tall. One is built to current building code standards, while the other follows cutting-edge Passive Building Design insulation standards. Inside each box there will be 80 pounds of ice. Over two days in the summer Albuquerque heat, 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.

CNM students from programs such as Architectural Engineering; Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC); Construction Management; Carpentry and Construction; and other trades programs will learn about the process.

“This pilot project is an educational tool,” says architect Xavier Obando, one of the organizers with AIA. “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.”

The goal is to continue expanding the challenge in future iterations while engaging CNM students in the architecture and construction fields with real-world experience in planning, building, and documenting high-performance structures. Joseph Andrade, CNM’s lead instructor for Architectural Engineering, is leading the College’s involvement in the Cool Box Challenge.

The Cool Box Challenge also intends to raise awareness about a pressing global issue – over 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the operation of buildings. Much of that impact can be reduced by simply 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.

“When you get the envelope right, the comfort and savings are built in for the life of the building,” Obando says.