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Central Michigan University’s new College of Education and Human Services facility provides a landmark building that houses this nationally recognized program under one green roof. First, with a charge from the university to design a healthy and sustainable learning environment, the building is CMU’s first project to seek LEED certification, and the university is going for Gold. As a result, the design team took an integrated approach and used the latest sustainable technology and the widest range of sustainable materials and worked collaboratively with in-house engineering to integrate the solutions. This included studying the placement of the facility to maximize its solar orientation, and testing sustainable products and theories for their usefulness in this particular facility. Sustainable features in this state-of-the-art facility include:
- Displacement ventilation. Minimizing HVAC loads were critical to the success of the project, as was improved air quality for the occupants. To accomplish this goal, the design team implemented displacement ventilation mechanical systems in the building’s large interior classrooms. This called for a dedicated system that provides tempered air and thermal comfort while using less energy, and delivers fresh air to the occupants’ breathing zone.
- Rain screen panels. The building’s exterior offers the facility a two-fold benefit. Not only does it harmonize with the existing campus context, it offers a pressure-equalized ventilated wall system made of terra-cotta rain screen panels. These panels allow the façade to breathe, thus discouraging water damage and molds while allowing for more insulation in the wall’s cavity.
- Natural light. Classrooms are located on the northern half of the building with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that capitalize on the northern ambient light. Office-intensive spaces that make up the building’s southern half are equipped with operable punched windows with solar hoods to control the intensity of the southern light. These window hoods are integrated with light shelves that bounce ambient light deep into the room. The team conducted studies that proved the dramatic increase in the rooms’ thermal comfort.
- Rainwater. Water-efficient landscaping and green roofs planted with sturdy, low-growth flowering sedums filter and collect rainwater which minimize storm water collection for the local municipality and provide a new natural view to look down onto.
Additionally, the facility houses all of the college’s teacher-education related programs. The nationally recognized education program is now showcased in one place and includes clinical programs, an early childhood development lab, and state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratory space.
The technology-rich environment is conducive to social learning, team building and collaboration, with an emphasis on health, aesthetics, and operation and maintenance cost savings. |
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Client
Central Michigan University
Date Completed
June 2009
Size
136,000 square feet
LEED
Seeking LEED gold certification |
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