The University of Mary Washington’s new building at its Stafford campus has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, putting UMW at the local forefront of a green building movement sweeping Virginia and the United States.
The achievement positions UMW among a small handful of Virginia colleges with buildings that are LEED certified, according to the Green Building Council.
Construction of the North Building at the UMW College of Graduate and Professional Studies in Stafford was complete in fall 2006, and students began attending classes in the building in January 2007.
“The certification shows that UMW is committed to providing our students and staff with a healthy and safe place to learn and work,” said Acting President Richard V. Hurley. “We have provided a building that conserves resources and demonstrates that we care about being an environmentally responsible organization.”
Several other buildings in the Fredericksburg area, including the Virginia Department of Transportation’s new Fredericksburg Safety Rest Area and Welcome Center, are LEED registered, which is a step required before LEED certification.
The 42,612-square-foot building on U.S. 17 is the second academic building to open on the 48-acre graduate and professional studies campus. The building features a spacious multiuse hall and a dramatic, two-story atrium defined by a curved wall of windows.
Green features include a reflective roof that reduces heat and contributes to the building’s energy efficiency. The monitoring system allows the tracking of mechanical equipment to ensure high performance and maximum efficiency over the building’s lifetime.
Energy saving measures also include energy efficient glazing, additional wall and roof insulation, more efficient chillers and boilers, energy recovery ventilators and more efficient lighting than required by code. The mechanical system uses no ozone-depleting gases such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons or halons.
Construction waste normally sent to landfills was cut by nearly 92 percent, with 1,720 tons of materials recycled during construction. Most of the recycled waste was concrete and masonry, but also included wood materials, metals, paper and cardboard, and land clearing debris. The contractor used low-emissions paints, sealants, carpets, adhesives and composite wood products.
The building features a recycling program involving the collection of recyclables such as plastic bottles and paper. In addition, parking spaces are reserved for alternative fuel vehicles, and the University maintains a hybrid Ford Escape for official use by faculty and staff.
“The University of Mary Washington is to be congratulated for achieving LEED Certification,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The certification…sends a message that cares about the health of the building’s users and employees. Everyone’s comfort, safety and well-being will benefit from the fresh air and natural day light.”
UMW’s attainment of LEED certification provides independent verification that the building design and construction meet the highest performance standards, conserve resources, are deemed environmentally responsible and provide a healthy place for its occupants.
“The UMW project demonstrates that environmental stewardship can be done elegantly in today’s market. This building should reduce operating costs, conserve energy and water, and be a pleasant, inviting place for students and staff. There are a million compelling reasons to ‘go green’ in today’s world, and it’s nice to see the University of Mary Washington at the forefront,” said Bryna C. Dunn, director of environmental planning and research for Moseley Architects, Richmond and Virginia Beach, which designed the project. The contractor was KBS Inc. of Richmond.
In a related effort, UMW hired NORESCO, a Massachusetts-based energy management firm, to reduce energy use throughout the university. Currently, the firm is working with residential students on energy-saving behavior, such as shutting down computers and other electronic equipment when not in use, using energy-efficient light bulbs and conserving water usage by taking shorter showers.