Student Union Building Addition
Beginning in the summer of 2008, the college will begin construction of the $10 million Student Union Building addition. The addition will be the most environmentally friendly project the campus has seen to date.
In keeping with the Facilities Design and Construction Department's adherence to energy efficient 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 practices in all its building and site designs, the Student Union Building addition will utilize a number of 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. practices, such as building on a previously developed site to maximize open space on campus and developing a waste-management plan to recycle or salvage 50 percent of construction demolition.
This project employs a number of Green BuildingGreen or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. elements that make the building sustainable and reinforce the design themes. Some of the Green elements include:
- Utilized a glass enclosure to harvest daylight and reduce solar gain
- Reduce lighting requirements by optic controls
- Recover heat in the upper portion of the building volume
- Utilize radiant heating and cooling to temper the people strata of the space
- Utilize low water plumbing fixtures
- Install natural and recyclableRecycling is the third R of the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. materials; such as New York Blue Stone, walnut, etc.
- Utilize materials with 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. to improve interior air quality.
