sustainability, tradition links identity and purpose
When SHW architects began researching materials that would tie together the many uses of Central Michigan University’s new College of Education and Human Services, they were inspired by a simple stone: slate.

Slate is a natural resource and is quarried within the 500 miles of the site which is an important consideration for a building that aspires to LEED®. And slate is symbolically important to educators—for generations slate chalkboards were the mainstay of the classroom.

a space for many purposes
The University president described the multipurpose project with his interlocking fingers, symbolizing the projects intent to weave students, faculty, community, early childhood education, sustainability and campus into a dynamic community under one green roof. With this simple gesture, the design team had their direction. They researched materials, conducted comfort studies and studied campus traffic patterns. The final effort results in a landmark building seeking LEED silver.

“This building represents many different purposes,” says Tod Stevens, LEED AP and lead designer. “Slate was the material chosen to symbolically lace together the tradition of education with the modern reality of technology. The building touches everyone throughout the education process, from administrators, aspiring teachers, daycare providers and young children.”

state-of-the-art solutions
Students will receive special instruction in math and science through unique state-of-the-art environments. All classrooms are located on the northern half of the building with floor to ceiling walls of glass that capitalize on the northern ambient light. The office intensive spaces make up the southern half of the building and are equipped with operable punched windows with solar fins to control the intensity of the southern light.

The sustainable solutions are state-of-the-art as well. Inside the building, displacement ventilation presents an opportunity to improve both the thermal comfort and indoor air quality of the occupied space. Displacement ventilation takes advantage of the difference in air density between an upper contaminated zone and a lower clean zone providing tempered air at human level and requiring less electricity than a conventional system. The exterior glazing creates a ventilated wall system made of terra-cotta rain screen panels. Each unit measures 4 feet by 12 inches and provides a signature scale while echoing the terra-cotta material found in campus brick. The rain screen allows water to flow freely in and out of the wall mitigating future water damage.

Other sustainable design features include:

• a green roof planted with sturdy, low-growth flowering sedum plants to filter and collect rainwater
• displacement ventilation
• water efficient landscaping and fixtures
• daylighting
• highly efficient envelope enclosure