With ARAMARK as its commissioning agent, the new science building at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., has been awarded a Silver Rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. This is the first building on the college’s campus to be LEED certified. The 47,000-sf facility houses the life science laboratories, classrooms, and offices. Sustainable design features include waterless urinals; low-flow toilets and faucets; energy enthalpy wheels as a part of the HVAC system; low emissivity windows; wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); lab casework composed of agriboard; paints, adhesives, and sealants that contain low levels of volatile organic compounds; a green housekeeping program; and an educational outreach program with television monitors to educate visitors about the building's green features.
The green features of the science building allow the college to reduce operating costs and improve energy efficiency while providing an enhanced learning environment. As a result of building system commissioning, which verified the building systems performance to sustain the energy efficiencies as per the green design intentions, the college anticipates a return on its investment for commissioning within two years of the facility’s operation.
