The Revolution Door is a modified revolving door comprised of three parts - a redesigned central core that replaces the core of any existing or new revolving door, a mechanical/electrical system that harnesses human energy and redistributes electricity to an output device, and an output lighting system that maps the harnessed energy over a specified period of time. The Revolution Door harnesses a negligible amount of human energy for use within a building as a tangible light display; directly communicating a single person’s contribution to an energy cycle possible through the metabolic relationship between people, technology, and architecture.

Through a partnership with Natalie Jeremijenko, The Revolution Door has recently been awarded a grant through NYU’s Sustainability Fund for design and prototyping. The proposal is to install a modified revolving door top on one of the existing doors to BOBST library. An integrated light display will communicate to students that they are donating a small amount of their muscle energy to make electricity. The project is in conjunction with Jeremijenko’s Environmental Health Clinic which will monitor student’s willingness choose the Revolution Door, which may be more difficult to push, over the other two standard doors.