Old Main Renovation

In June of 2008 the college will begin a $25 million complete renovation of the Old Main Building, which serves as the primary academic and administrative space for the School of Education. Throughout the project, the college will integrate Green and SustainableSustainability is the use of ecosystems and their resources in a manner that satisfies current needs without compromising the needs or options of future generations. design. It will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.(LEED) certified project on our campus.

Examples of these elements include:

• Site work will look to reduce water consumption by planting native or adapted vegetation requiring minimal or no irrigation. Within a 5-year period, 50 percent of the hardscape (walkways, etc.) will be shaded through the use of trees and vegetation in order to reduce the "heat island effect".
• The building will maximize water efficiency to reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems by over 20 percent.
• The building's HVAC, lighting, and other systems will combine to be over 10 percent more energy efficient then the minimum, baseline standards dictated by the New York State Energy Code.
• Air conditioning systems will be installed with 0 percent ozone depleting refrigerant sources.
• Materials with recycled content will be incorporated into the new construction. Items include steel beams and columns, metal studs for partitions, and finishes such as carpet, vinyl tile flooring and acoustic ceiling panels.
• Adhesives, paints, and carpeting will be low Volatile Organic CompoundsVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. emitting materials.
• During construction, a construction waste management plan will be used to recycle or salvage 50 percent of non-hazardous demolition debris.
• At the end of construction, building mechanical and safety systems will be commissioned to verify the installation and performance of the systems.