Black and gold goes green

Photo of 7800 York Road interior by Kanji Takeno

TU facilities and grounds geared toward high-efficiency buildings and restoring green space

By Stuart Zang

It’s not easy being green. TU is meeting the challenge by conserving and expanding open, green spaces on campus, installing high-efficiency heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to campus buildings and using recycled and renewable materials in renovation and new construction.

“Over the past decade we’ve implemented green initiatives wherever practical and whenever possible,” says Jack Nye, director of planning, Facilities Management.

Nye says TU is closely following the campus master plan recommendations, which eventually will result in the conversion of approximately 20 acres of paved areas around campus into open, green space. Two of those acres will come from completion of the College of Liberal Arts and the Phase 1 West Village housing projects.

As TU undertakes an extensive building program, conservation and maintenance of existing green space has also become a priority. Since 2001 more than 15 acres of high-priority forest stand areas have been placed into perpetual conservation easements for preservation. Nye says one of TU’s goals is to use all-native plants for projects which include landscaping improvements.

TU’s new building infrastructures are increasingly environmentally conscious. David Mayhew, director of architecture, engineering and construction for Facilities Management, says the recently constructed University Child Care Center features a hot water radiant floor system and passive solar heating with summer shading to efficiently heat the facility. Operable windows provide natural ventilation and daylight.

Recently renovated and expanded buildings, such as the Center for the Arts, use natural daylight to reduce electricity costs. Many have been modified with high performance energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning units. “More energy-efficient HVAC equipment costs more up front," Nye explains, "but over the life-cycle it’s more operationally efficient, environmentally-sound and economical than standard equipment."

Facilities Management also chooses “green” materials for interior and exterior finishes whenever possible. These materials not only recycle and reuse resources that would otherwise end up in a landfill, they often require less energy to maintain. The exterior walls of 7800 York Road use an innovative high-performance terra cotta tile that provides a longer life, better insulation and improved moisture and mold prevention compared to conventional brick.

“Fortunately, the cost of constructing green buildings has come down a lot in recent years, as it gains mainstream acceptance and as higher energy costs create shorter payback periods” says Mayhew. “Human comfort, environmental air quality, daylight—these things hit home with all faculty, staff and students.

“If we can improve our working environment—along with the global environment—it benefits all of us.”

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