Kresge Hall earns highest possible “green” rating
The humanities hub becomes the first Northwestern building to achieve LEED Platinum status
By Daniel P. Smith
Kresge Centennial Hall has long been a symbol of the humanities’ important place at Northwestern University, even more so after a two-year renovation project created a vibrant, contemporary and collaborative environment for students, faculty and staff.
Now, the 63-year-old building is a symbol of something else: the University’s ongoing commitment to sustainable practices.
Days before the start of the 2017-2018 academic year, Northwestern leaders received word that the renovated Kresge Hall had achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the highest possible level of LEED certification.
The USGBC’s LEED program recognizes building designs that are resource- efficient and cost-effective while providing a healthier and greener lifestyle for building occupants.
In rare company
While 10 buildings between Northwestern’s Evanston and Chicago campuses previously captured LEED certification, Kresge Hall is the first Northwestern project to earn Platinum status, a credential elevating Kresge Hall into rare company. According to the USGBC, there are only 1,167 Platinum-certified commercial buildings in the U.S. and only 89 such commercial buildings in Illinois.
“Northwestern continues to improve its built environment, prioritizing sustainability in new construction and building renovations,” says Kathia Benitez, director of sustainability for Northwestern. “We pushed the envelope to gain LEED Platinum certification.”
Completed in September 2016, the two-year-renovation of Kresge Centennial Hall included the addition of a fifth floor and a reconstructed east wing that expanded Kresge’s square footage by 20 percent.
The added space, however, did not come at the expense of the environment, as Kresge earned 86 points on LEED’s stringent 110-point scale that evaluates everything from site sustainability and water efficiency to energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Surpassing the 80 points necessary to earn Platinum status, the renovated Kresge Hall includes:
- A 254-solar panel array on the roof that generates 81 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power 5 percent of the building’s electrical fixtures
- Radiant ceiling panels, or “chilled sails,” in offices and classrooms that use chilled water from the Central Utility Plant to reduce the amount of energy needed for air conditioning
- A white-roof design that lowers the building’s cooling costs
- Classrooms retrofitted with carbon dioxide sensors that adjust the circulation of outside air based on room occupancy
- LED lighting throughout the building as well as daylight sensors that automatically dim lights during brighter times of day and occupancy sensors that turn off lights in empty rooms
- Exterior walls and new windows featuring the highest available insulating value
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures that reduce water consumption by 35 percent
- A highly efficient irrigation system and the use of native plants that reduce water use for landscaping
- Filtered water at hydration stations and recycling bins located throughout the building
- 80 bike parking spaces, two Divvy bike sharing stations and easy access to public transportation and Northwestern shuttles to encourage the use of alternative transportation
- Low-emitting paints, flooring, composite wood adhesives and sealants that minimize emissions of pollutants and improve indoor air quality
In addition, 41 percent of the total materials purchased for the renovation project were produced within 500 miles of Kresge Hall, while 93 percent of all waste generated during construction was diverted from landfills through recycling or reuse.
“I am so proud of Northwestern for investing in this important project that improves the student and faculty experience for our humanities,” Northwestern vice president of facilities management John D’Angelo says. “I am equally proud of the design and execution team, which met all program goals, experience goals and budget goals. It proves that collaborative, thoughtful design need not be more expensive and results in a higher-quality product.”
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