Urban living as a laboratory?

That’s exactly what is being built outside Dallas. Located at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, the project will be the world's largest LEED certified research, demonstration and teaching laboratory. Announced last month by Dr. Mark Hussey, vice chancellor of agriculture and life sciences for The Texas A&M University System, he called it a “lifestyle community built with state-of-the-art and evolving green technologies.”

The UN is projecting that more than 2 billion more people will be living in urban areas by 2030, and the systems required to feed, shelter and transport so many urbanites are being planned and constructed today. This competition for the latest in sustainable products and services has more than 20 companies collaborating on the $128 million public-private partnership for this mixed-use development that will measure energy use. Plans for the development, or what’s known as an “urban living laboratory”, include 600 apartments, 150,000 square feet of office and 105,000 square feet of retail space, and two hotels equaling 250 rooms.

The laboratory can house an estimated 3,500 residents, or provide enough on-site space for 1,800 employees. It's research will span multiple disciplines including energy, environmental quality, waste management/recycling, intelligent buildings, urban design, economics, transportation, logistics and water resource management. Learn more at www.urbanlivinglaboratory.com