Staff Profile: Jim Sugaste, Executive Director of Technical Services and Construction Delivery at Manhattanville Development Group

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

January 15, 2025

Jim Sugaste is the Executive Director of Technical Services and Construction Delivery within the Manhattanville Development Group at Columbia University. As a Licensed Professional Engineer, Jim's technical expertise is invaluable to the University's commitment to sustainability. Since joining the University in 2008, Jim has been a driving force behind the technical design and engineering for all new facilities within the Manhattanville development envelope. Before joining Columbia, Jim held technical leadership positions at NYU, St. John’s University, and AT&T subsidiaries. 

Jim and his team are in charge of implementing sustainable and energy-efficient systems across the Manhattanville campus and selective development projects on Morningside.

We asked Jim 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: Sustainability, in relation to my work at Columbia, is more than just a goal; it's an extension of our technical and engineering commitment and mantra. It urges us to design systems and components that are not only financially and technically efficient but also resilient, with survivability considerations that ensure long-term reliability. Our approach to sustainability directly impacts the challenges we face with global warming, and this is where our role as engineers becomes critical. 

Being immersed in every stage of Manhattanville’s facility development enables me to shape our technical vision and direction collaboratively, ensuring alignment with the collective ascent toward 'Mount Sustainability.' This journey is about setting new standards—making all new facilities all-electric with no reliance on fossil fuels and integrating renewable resources such as geothermal systems as the norm. These are not just technological advancements but concrete demonstrations of our unwavering commitment to tackling the sustainability challenge head-on. Each step we take in this direction is a step toward creating a more sustainable future for Columbia and the broader global community, of which we are all a part. 

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

A: One sustainable practice I’m particularly proud of is our department's leadership in renovating and overseeing the all-electric facility at 611 W 112 Street, nearing completion. This project is a major milestone in our sustainability efforts, featuring the replacement of old fossil fuel oil boilers with advanced Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Heat Pumps for efficient heating and cooling. We've also upgraded the building with better insulation, high-performance windows, smart building technology, CO2 heat pumps for hot water, a dedicated Outside Air System (DOAS) with Energy Recovery, and energy-efficient lighting. We're aiming for LEED Gold certification, underscoring our commitment to a sustainable future. 

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

A: So many thoughts come to mind about the future of sustainability, renewable energy, advanced technologies, and the specialized operational training required to manage the cutting-edge systems being integrated into the mechanical-electrical-plumbing (MEP) infrastructure of the 17 facilities on the Manhattanville campus. Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a pivotal role in our building management systems, transforming how we monitor and optimize energy use. As AI continues to evolve, it will enable us to harness real-time data more effectively, driving meaningful energy efficiency and consumption improvements across all our developments.

We are in the process of starting the design for one of the largest geothermal systems installations on the Manhattanville campus, with extensive boreholes that will be the primary source for heating the new academic and research facility at Site 6. The City has recognized our announcement of the groundbreaking initiative in West Harlem that brings to the forefront the importance of sustainable energy solutions for the future. We will be taking the bold step of commencing the drilling of boreholes to fully develop our first-ever geothermal exchange closed-loop system in the Manhattanville campus. Located deep beneath the earth's surface, this innovative approach aims to tap into the natural and consistent heat of the ground, providing an environmentally friendly and efficient heating solution for our upcoming facility.