Friday, Jul 27, 2012
Sustainability initiatives in the University鈥檚 newest academic building are recognized by an organization dedicated to better, brighter and healthier places to live, work and learn.
by Sean Ramsden
Green has turned to gold at 小优视频, where North Hall, the University鈥檚 newest academic building that opened last fall, has been certified Gold by The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
LEED, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Building projects earn points for satisfying specific green-building criteria in five LEED credit categories, including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. An additional category, innovation in design, addresses sustainable building expertise and additional design measures. The number of points the project earns determines the level of LEED certification the project receives.
鈥淏uildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,鈥 said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. 鈥淭he North Hall project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come.鈥
The 21,000-square-foot North Hall was designed by Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., an award-winning, full-service architectural and sustainable design firm from Trenton, and constructed by Seacoast Builders of Freehold. Spiezle is noted for its expertise in and commitment to sustainable construction.
鈥淭he LEED Gold certification for North Hall exceeded expectations and is a great example of the teamwork and expertise that went into designing and building this project,鈥 said Mike Reca, Rider鈥檚 associate vice president for Facilities and Auxiliary Services. 鈥淭he collaboration between the Spiezle Architectural Group and the Rider team did an outstanding job.鈥
North Hall is the first strictly academic facility to be built on the Lawrenceville campus since Sweigart Hall in 1988. Its construction was part of a $12.9 million combined project that also includes a large outdoor plaza connecting North Hall to the adjacent Memorial Hall, and a substantial renovation of the Bart Luedeke Center Theater.
The year-old building features nine classrooms, two seminar rooms, 16 faculty and departmental offices, and a multipurpose conference room. Ground was broken in May 2010. While the building is home to Rider鈥檚 History and Philosophy department offices, its classrooms serve all programs throughout the University.
Rider pledged to meet the USGBC鈥檚 LEED standards when President Mordechai Rozanski signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007, directing that all further new campus construction would be LEED certified. Rider鈥檚 West Village Residence Halls were certified LEED Silver shortly after their completion in fall 2009.
鈥淎chieving LEED Gold for North Hall just shows how far Rider has come with its green initiatives,鈥 said Melissa Greenberg, sustainability manager at Rider. 鈥淭his is real proof that with the signing of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, an impact was made, and Rider has chosen to dedicate resources toward achieving the goals that it set out to complete.鈥
The LEED Gold certification for North Hall is the latest success in Rider鈥檚 commitment to being a leader in sustainability among colleges and universities. Earlier this year, Rider was named one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada by The Princeton Review, which selected Rider for inclusion in the third annual edition of The Princeton Review鈥檚 Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition.