EcoWorx® PVC-Free Carpet Tile for Sustainable Buildings: Inside Harvard’s David Rubenstein Treehouse

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^{Article written by: Katie Marvel, Senior Content Marketing, Sustainability | Published by Shaw Contract}

Rising at Harvard University’s Enterprise Research Campus, the David Rubenstein Treehouse is designed to bring people together—literally up in the canopy. Designed by Studio Gang, the mass timber structure frames expansive views from the top level, where Canopy Hall anchors the main gathering space alongside a south-facing terrace and a pre-function zone with breakout areas. The result is a biophilic, material-rich conference destination that feels grounded in nature while supporting the pace of an urban research environment.

As documented by Metropolis magazine and Studio Gang, sustainability is embedded in both the building and site approach. The landscape is designed to be biodiverse, offering habitat for wildlife, while bioswales work in combination with a rooftop collection system to retain and reuse rainwater.

Indoors, the project emphasizes healthier material choices, prioritizing interior materials, furniture and finishes that avoid harmful chemicals to support indoor air quality and occupant health. In addition to aligning with Harvard’s Healthier Building Academy goals, the Treehouse is targeting Living Building Challenge (LBC) Core Certification and LBC Materials Petal Certification. These sustainability benchmarks elevate transparency and responsible material selection across the entire project.

On the second floor, Shaw Contract Beyond EcoWorx® PVC-free carpet tile, helps translate those goals into a high-performance, welcoming interior experience. Specified for areas that support connection, the carpet tile brings warmth and acoustic comfort to spaces shaped by exposed timber and daylight.

For more than 20 years, Shaw Contract has invested in material health with EcoWorx carpet tile backing, the first flooring product to be Cradle to Cradle Certified®. Through Shaw’s Environmental Guarantee and re[TURN]® Reclamation Program, EcoWorx backed carpet tile can be reclaimed at the end of its useful life and recycled into the next generation of flooring. In a building pursuing LBC Core and Materials Petal certifications, specifying EcoWorx carpet tile supports a broader commitment to responsible material selection.

From rainwater reuse to healthier interiors, the David Rubenstein Treehouse demonstrates how ambitious sustainability targets can be paired with inspiring architecture. With Beyond carpet tile underfoot, the second floor supports Harvard’s vision for a future-ready campus environment — one that’s as mindful of materials as it is memorable to experience.

Learn More: 

Inside Harvard’s Next Big Urban Experiment - Metropolis

Jeanne Gang on Harvard's New Rubenstein Treehouse - Metropolis

David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University – Studio Gang