Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s $52 million Science Building West has received the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) stamp of approval as a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver-level project for its energy-friendliness.
LEED Silver is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and design teams choose the best fit for their project.
The new facility, completed last fall, is the fourth building on SIUE’s campus to be certified by the USGBC at this point with more certifications forthcoming, according to Rich Walker, assistant vice chancellor for administration.
“When we finish all of our LEED review processes, we will have a total of seven LEED-certified buildings on campus,” Walker said. “Our new Art and Design Building, the Lucas Athletics Annex (Vadalabene Center addition), a new apartment building in Cougar Village and now the Science Building West have attained this certification based on energy efficiency.
“Future certified buildings include the Engineering Annex, the new Dental Lab and the soon-to-be renovated Science Building East.”
The newly USGBC-certified science facility provides space for research and teaching laboratories in a leading edge learning environment. Three departments, chemistry, biology and environmental sciences, are housed in the 136,000-square foot building.
“Science labs are a challenge to get certified because of the mechanical requirements,” Walker added. “LEED requires ultra efficiency yet labs are running all the time. In addition, the office components need to operate on a separate system than the labs, adding complexity to the overall design.”
Dennis Lammert, senior vice-president at St. Louis-based Hastings+Chivetta Architects Inc. and project architect, said the LEED-certified building offers its occupants an abundance of natural light, a state-of-the-art indoor air quality system, solar roof panels, low water use plumbing fixtures and sustainable design features.
Because it is a teaching facility, Science Building West’s design includes a “dashboard” or monitor on the wall where students can gauge how efficiently the building is operating.
“SIUE students have been drawn to the study areas, which are located throughout the building,” Lammert said. “These areas are used for student-to-student and student-to-faculty discussions. Since students and faculty first moved into the new science building, they continue to be impressed and delighted with the design and functionality.”
Bill Retzlaff, Ph.D, associate dean of arts and sciences and chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences Program, agreed that SIUE faculty and students are overwhelmingly pleased with the new facility, especially the labs.
“It’s an outstanding research facility,” said Retzlaff. “I have a research lab in the new building. In my perception, the thing that really has enriched our learning experience the most is the laboratory space.
“In the old building, we struggled to find opportunities for students to work with other students. This new building provides exceptional hands-on teaching outside of the classroom as well as student engagement. It has been elevated to a level we’ve not seen before,” he added.
Serving as sustainable design consultant on the project was Hellmuth & Bicknese Architects, L.L.C. of St. Louis.
A $32 million renovation of SIUE’s original Science Building East began this spring. The project is reconfiguring 80,000 square feet for offices, classrooms and laboratories. It also includes upgrading the climate control, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, and replacing the large glass windows with energy-efficient designs.
The physics, mathematics and statistics departments will remain in Science Lab Building East. The additional room and rehabilitation work, according to Walker, will reduce overcrowding in laboratories and growing pains experienced by the University in recent years.
During the past five years, SIUE has completed more than half of a $310 million construction and infrastructure improvement program. The plan includes accommodating the University’s growth, providing critical updates and upgrades and bringing the latest technological capabilities to its students, staff and faculty.