Staff Profile: Hugo Brun-Pantoja, Associate Director for Commissioning within Facilities and Operations

Hugo Brun-Pantoja is the Associate Director for Commissioning on the Morningside Campus. With more than 26 years of experience in engineering, project lifecycle management, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design, and energy assessment across a variety of sectors, Hugo provides strategic and operational oversight to the Morningside Commissioning group and third-party commissioning consultants.

Before joining Columbia University in January 2013, Hugo worked on energy efficiency initiatives, operations, and maintenance for manufacturing facilities, and provided consulting services in commissioning and energy solutions for institutional, commercial, and residential facilities.

At Columbia, Hugo ensures newly installed MEP systems are operational, maintainable, and meet design intents. In his role, Hugo supports sustainable design at Columbia, strives for operational and technical excellence, and bridges construction projects with the Facilities and Operations departments, ensuring seamless transitions of new MEP systems from construction to beneficial use.

We asked Hugo some questions about how his work incorporates sustainability and contributes to Columbia’s net zero goal.

Q: What does sustainability mean to you in relation to your work at Columbia?

A: Columbia University is deeply committed to the commissioning process in its construction projects, ensuring that all building systems and components are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained in line with the operational requirements of the Facilities and Operations departments. The numerous LEED-certified new buildings and renovations highlight Columbia’s dedication to sustainable construction. The university has long adopted the requirements for fundamental and enhanced commissioning LEED credits as a standard practice in its construction projects.

Sustainability is a core aspect of my role at Columbia. Our commissioning teams closely oversee the installation and testing of new MEP systems, ensuring their seamless integration with existing buildings on the Morningside and Manhattanville Campuses. Our efforts directly support the University’s sustainability goals by ensuring these systems operate efficiently and comply with the University’s Design Requirements.

The commissioning process enhances Columbia’s sustainability in six key areas:

• Energy Efficiency: Ensuring HVAC, lighting, and plumbing systems are correctly installed and operational reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Resource Optimization: Effective commissioning minimizes waste and lowers the University’s environmental footprint by ensuring efficient resource use.
• Improved Indoor Air Quality: Verifying ventilation and filtration systems leads to healthier indoor environments and reduces the need for energy-intensive air purification.
• Extended Equipment Life: Regular commissioning helps identifying and corrects issues early, preventing premature equipment failure and conserving resources.
• Compliance with Green Building Standards: Many certifications, such as LEED, require commissioning, ensuring buildings meet high sustainability standards.
• Operational Savings: Efficient systems reduce operational costs, enabling savings to be reinvested in further sustainability initiatives.

Q: What is one sustainable practice or achievement in your department that you are proud of?

A: The sustainable practice I am most proud of is the rigorous closeout process in place to turn over new MEP systems, especially in laboratories of demanding environmental controllability destined for academic research, to Facilities and Operations. The turnover process at Columbia is very thorough and it includes testing of the MEP systems during opposite seasons to ensure energy efficient operation and sustainable performance within required design parameters, accompanied by a robust training program for end users and Facilities and Operations groups. 

Q: What is something you would like to implement in the future, or are in the process of implementing in regard to sustainability?

A: Looking ahead with the support of our senior leadership, we would like to implement continuous commissioning at Columbia University. This ongoing process aims to resolve operating issues, improve environmental comfort, and optimize energy use in existing buildings and our central plant. Continuous commissioning involves real-time monitoring and diagnostics of HVAC systems, allowing for immediate adjustments to maintain optimal performance. This initiative will reduce energy waste and enhance the energy efficiency of all MEP systems on the Morningside Campus.