The University of Michigan’s newest residence hall has struck gold by being the first on campus to receive LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED, or Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design, is a green-building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
The Munger Graduate Residences, located between Division and Thompson streets at Madison, opened Aug. 1. The 380,000-square-foot building houses 630 graduate students in a high-density residential-academic arrangement.
“From the beginning of the project, energy-efficient material and systems were built into the design,” said Deanna Mabry, associate director for planning and design. “Additionally, in an effort to optimize the use of materials and minimize construction waste, 730 unit bathrooms were prefabricated offsite using modular construction.”
Regionally manufactured and extracted building materials with recycled content, including carpets and flooring, were used whenever possible. Low-flow fixtures and sensor faucets, aiming to reduce water consumption by 44 percent when compared with the 2012 Michigan Plumbing Code, will achieve water conservation.
The installation of efficient HVAC systems, above-code insulation in the exterior walls and roof, and reduced lighting density are designed to reduce energy costs by over 30 percent.
The residence hall incorporates a 6,300-square-foot green roof and 12,000 square feet of porous pavers, two rain gardens and an in-ground filtration system.
The green design of the Munger building exemplifies the drive toward higher sustainability standards across recent residence hall projects.
Along with Munger, the renovated East Quad, West Quad, Alice Lloyd Hall and Couzens Hall have all won ENERGY STAR certification, recognizing energy efficiency per Environmental Protection Agency criteria. Renovations have also featured extensive of use of recycled materials, sensors, and LED lighting.
Other U-M projects that have received LEED Gold certification include the addition to the Institute for Social Research, the Dana Building, the Law School Academic Building (South Hall), the Crisler Center expansion and the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Laboratory addition.
Michelle Terrell
Well done! This classification is coveted by universities and industries around the country.
Greg Chang
The low flow shower is really disturbing and uncomfortable. I am a water conservative person but my shower time just gets longer and longer now, and now I barely keep saving water in mind, even in non-low-flow places as the habit has been matured
Troy Clack
Excited to see this building, keep up the good work – the university is obviously in a good cash position, needs to continue to lead the green movement by example. Go blue!