PELLA — Central College was awarded a platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for its newly constructed education, psychology and communication studies building, which opened this past fall. The building received 55 out of 69 possible credits for incorporating environmentally friendly building design and construction practices.
“We are proud to add this building to our list of LEED-rated campus facilities,” said Mike Lubberden, Central’s director of facilities planning and management and Iowa’s first LEED accredited professional. “The building is already serving as a model for sustainability; not only for our students, but also for the greater Pella community. We believe it truly shares the message for intergenerational responsibility.”
Sustainable features include a vegetative roof that occupants can enjoy via a rooftop patio, natural ventilation, daylight harvesting systems, and radiant floors which serve to heat and cool the facility. Rain water is captured and re-used for flushing low-flow toilets and urinals, and building materials contain high recycled content. Drought tolerant native plantings, rain gardens and pervious pavers were incorporated into the landscape design. In addition, materials were recycled from the college’s University Apartments and several houses which were razed to make room for the project.
“This special recognition from the USGBC brings great joy to the whole Central College community and reflects continuing success of our pursuit of a sustainable future as a long-term goal adopted by Central’s board of trustees,” said Central College President David Roe. “The achievement was made possible through the concerted efforts of the professionals on Central’s staff led by Mike Lubberden and a large team of amazing corporate partners including Weitz Corporation as our general contractor, RDG Planning and Design, MEP and Associates, and Pella Corporation.”
This is Central’s third LEED-rated building, following Vermeer Science Center, the first LEED-rated building in Iowa, which received a silver rating and Howard McKee Hall, the first residence hall in Iowa to receive LEED certification earning a gold rating. In addition to having three academic departments, the building is the new home for Central’s award-winning community-based learning program and the college’s new Center for Global Sustainability Education.
