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Our Success Stories: LEED Certified Buildings |
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| Academic Building: Second Floor |
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Completed in 1955, the Academic Building housed offices for College administrators, staff and faculty, in addition to classrooms and the library. When the library moved to its new LEED certified facility in 2006, the second level of the Academic Building was left vacant. The College decided to renovate and update the building's second level. This renovation was done through Rockford Construction and it has earned silver LEED certification from the USGBC. During the renovation process, over 75% of construction waste was diverted from a landfill.
To maximize energy efficiency on the second floor of the Academic Building, HVAC systems, lighting systems, and appliances were reviewed and selected based on energy performance. Daylight sensors were an addition to the lighting controls, turning off the lights when they sense adequate natural light for the particular space. The second floor of the Academic Building houses classrooms and offices, as well as the Center for Sustainability. This space serves as a common area where students and faculty can come together, increasing communication. |
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| Ravine Apartment D |
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Aquinas College has experienced an increased growth in the student population in recent years, resulting in an increasing demand for on campus housing. To address this issue, the College decided to construct a new housing structure for upperclassmen. Ravine Apartment D received LEED certification at the basic level after construction completed in 2008. Tight controls were established during the building process which reduced construction waste and allowed the project team to recycle 95% of the construction and land clearing debris.
Located on the east side of campus, the Aquinas College Ravine Apartment Building D facility overlooks a nature preserve area and creek bed. Storm water runoff is routed into infiltration basins, which are shallow impoundments designed to allow storm water to infiltrate into the ground. This helps to recharge local aquifers and it is believed to have high pollutant removal efficiency. State-of-the-art HVAC and electrical systems were installed to reduce energy consumption. Water use was reduced 23.2% by carefully selecting water efficient fixtures and equipment. In accordance with the College’s goals for high systems performance, this facility was designed to operate efficiently. >More information |
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| Grace Hauenstein Library Exhibits Green Features |
| Implementation Status: The structure received LEED Certification, at the Silver Level, in 2008. Construction was completed in 2006. |
| The Grace Hauenstein Library is Aquinas College’s most recent construction project to received LEED certification from the USGBC. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing sustainable buildings. Since the library is seeking LEED certification, there are many notable green features of the project. All paints, carpet, and padding are low-VOC, meaning that there is only a small concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds in these products. All particle and board used in the building were also low-VOC. Through the use of low flow faucets and toilets, the library decrease water use by thirty-two percent. |
| >>Download (pdf) information on the Jarecki Center photovoltaic system |
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| Sustainability Information Plaques in Jarecki/Lacks/Library |
| Implementation Status: The information displays are completed and posted in the Grace Hauenstein Library entryway. |
| Rebecca Kirk, an Aquinas alumnus, submitted a formal proposal in March of 2007 to have education displays developed to highlight the green components of the Grace Hauenstein Library. To assist with LEED certification of the building and to educate visitors about the library's green building features, the college decided to develop these displays, independent of this proposal. |
| Click here to view a brochure of the LEED certified buildings currently on campus. |
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