Fuse at Mason Square
Mason Innovation Partners
Led by the Mason Innovation Partners development consortium, the project team includes Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate as developer and investor, Harrison Street as a capital partner, Page as architect, and Clark Construction as contractor. With environmentally-friendly approaches implemented across design, construction, and long-term operations, this project represents a significant investment in sustainability from the public and private sector. Fuse Sustainability by the Numbers Designed and constructed to be LEED Platinum certified and net-zero energy, Fuse is a future-ready building that incorporates sustainable features aimed at maximizing occupant comfort and well-being while minimizing its environmental impact. Key features include: - 10% embodied carbon reduction - 3,500 tons of construction debris reclaimed through rigorous lifecycle analyses and waste-diversion strategies - 39.1% reduction in annual energy use driven by high-performance envelope, triple-glazed façades, and integrated photovoltaic arrays - Net-zero energy secured by utilization of all-electric systems and purchase of renewable energy credits - 40% reduction in potable water use - 25,000 square feet of green roofs creating vital urban habitats Partnership’s Approaches to Energy and Carbon Reduction Early Planning From the project’s inception, the team collaborated closely on the selection of highly efficient systems and materials. By performing detailed comparisons of mechanical system solutions, photovoltaic array design and location (façade array versus roof mounted array), and triple versus double glazing on all façade windows, the team optimized selections for sustainability and occupant experience. Waste Management and Diversion During construction, waste was carefully managed to allow for 92%, or over 3,500 tons, of the total construction debris to be diverted from the landfill. Materials re-used or recycled included construction materials such as concrete and masonry, brick, metal, drywall, plastic, asphalt, and glass, as well as common products such as plastic, paper and cardboard. Thoughtful Material Selection Significant attention was given to the environmental characteristics of the materials procured for the building’s construction. Nearly 200 unique materials were tracked, with verified data about their environmental impacts and chemical contents collected. The information includes lifecycle assessments documenting the embodied carbon content and the selection of finish materials that do not off-gas into the occupied and finished space. Designing for Maximum Energy Efficiency The building's high-performance envelope includes an optimized window-to-wall ratio, triple glazing, solar control coatings, and improved insulation, all of which work together to minimize heat loss and improve occupant comfort. Daylight harvesting systems automatically adjust lighting to maximize natural light in perimeter spaces, reducing energy consumption. Mechanical systems feature a Dedicated Outside Air System with energy recovery, while distributed sensible cooling units maintain efficient heating and cooling in properly sized thermal zones. The building also utilizes efficient LED lighting with occupancy sensors and time switch controls, further reducing energy use. Managing Future Environmental Impact The building’s iconic façade features a photovoltaic array designed to maximize solar energy capture. Additionally, the project is enrolled into a program with Dominion Energy to purchase renewable energy credits, offsetting the building’s remaining energy consumption, successfully managing its future environmental impact by officially making Fuse a net-zero energy facility. Fuse utilizes all-electric heating and domestic water heating, supporting the University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and contributing to Arlington County's goal of carbon-neutral emissions by 2050. The building utilizes environmentally-friendly emergency generators with reduced emissions compared to the typically-specified emergency generations for projects of this size. Water Conservation Water conservation strategies include ultra-low flow fixtures that reduce indoor potable water consumption by 40%. Outdoor water use is reduced by the inclusion of native and locally-adapted plant species, which significantly minimizes the need for irrigation. For added sustainability, mechanical equipment condensation is captured and reused to irrigate the green roofs, further reducing water consumption. The building’s stormwater management system includes vegetated green roofs and detention systems. Mitigating Future Challenges The design also accounts for climate adaptability, with resilient systems capable of handling extreme rainfall and heat events predicted for 2050. The building’s triple glazing and highly insulated walls are designed to protect occupants from an anticipated increase in temperatures while mitigating increased energy usage, while its sophisticated stormwater design, including roof drains and collection systems, are ready to withstand heavy rainfall, making the building a model for future-ready, sustainable design. Enhancing the End-User Experience Sustainable features are also used to enhance the end-user experience throughout the building. These initiatives support both environmental goals and a healthier indoor environment by incorporating MERV 13 filtration in the HVAC system to improve air quality. The building’s active design, with thoughtful placement of collaboration spaces, building amenities, and widened stairways, support increased ad hoc interactions amongst building occupants. Biophilic design elements, such as views to the outdoors, the use of materials with natural patterns and textures, and green roof terrace areas, are thoughtfully integrated throughout the project to foster a connection to the outdoors. The occupant experience is further enhanced by advanced smart building controls, which adjust lighting, temperature, and other comfort parameters based on individual preferences. This flexibility is made possible by BACnet automation, which enables real-time feedback to the building’s engineers, allowing for proactive maintenance and repairs. Additionally, a building dashboard displays real-time data on energy and water use, allowing occupants to engage with the building’s performance as a dynamic, living laboratory. Frank Strike, P.E., Vice President, Facilities and Campus Operations at George Mason University, noted: “The Fuse building on George Mason University's Mason Square campus provides an excellent example of a high-performing, energy-efficient building because of its energy efficiency, electrification, resilience, and a design that creates a healthy building environment. Examples of the energy efficient design measures include improved insulation, optimal window-to-wall ratio, photovoltaic array, all-electric heating and domestic water heating, dedicated outside air system with energy recovery, LED lighting, occupancy sensors, time switch controls, etc. Furthermore, the building is enrolled into the Dominion Energy program for renewable credits officially making the building a net-zero energy facility. The building is also an example of engineering ingenuity that propels George Mason toward its goal of being the most sustainable university in Virginia as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). Finally, the Fuse building provides George Mason students a tremendous learning opportunity and a real- life example of using innovative technology to produce tangible energy efficiency results.” Promoting Biodiversity Fuse’s rooftop terrace transforms 25,000 square feet of interconnected green roofs into ecological stepping stones above the city, each planted with native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs that recreate regional habitats and sustain pollinators, songbirds and beneficial insects. Deep growing media not only buffers stormwater—absorbing and slowly releasing rainfall to nurture moisture-dependent organisms—but also fosters microhabitats within living soil, strengthening urban biodiversity where green space is scarce. On the facility’s dynamic outdoor plaza, a layered canopy of native oaks and maples shelters understory perennials and vibrant pollinator gardens, while vegetated groundcovers replace hardscape pavers to reduce heat island effects and invite ground-nesting invertebrates. Designed for people as much as for wildlife, the plaza’s seating clusters and open lawns encourage community gatherings, setting a new standard for resilient, biodiverse urban design.