Campus Commitment Shapes a Sustainable Community - Archives

Low-flow kitchen and bath fixtures inside and zero irrigation landscaping outside are expected to result in 30 percent less water use at Pacific University’s new dorm in Oregon. Photo courtesy of Eckert & Eckert.

Pacific University may be one of Oregon’s oldest universities, but it’s at the leading edge of demonstrating how to house students in an eco-friendly environment.

The university’s newest student residence hall, Burlingham Hall, has been designed to standards that would make it eligible for LEED Gold certification; the first student housing project on the West Coast to be so recognized. (The rating had not yet been awarded at the time of publication.)

Opened in August 2006, the 59,000-square-foot, 49-unit building houses 161 sophomores, juniors and seniors in two-bedroom suites and four-to-six person four-bedroom apartments. A typical apartment has two bedrooms and a bathroom on either side of a living room and kitchen. The building is fully wireless. To foster both passive and active communication connections among residents, each of the four floors has a large multi-use lounge. The ground floor has a main lobby, formal lounge and two large rooms that can be used for studying, conferences, classrooms, social gatherings and movie nights. A common laundry adjoins the reception area and the main lobby, and there is also a community kitchen on the third floor.

From the beginning, the goal was to design an environmentally sensitive building that would foster a sense of community among classmates, as well as provide a bridge between the main part of campus and an existing student housing complex, Vandervelden Court.

“Pacific University is committed to sustainability, and Burlingham Hall is a terrific example of eco-friendly construction, strong community-building focus and comfortable amenities for our students,” said Julie Murray-Jensen, assistant dean of students.

More than 93 percent of the construction waste was recycled, including waste from the demolition of the existing homes. The use of large, high-performance windows, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency lighting systems and energy-saving appliances, in addition to high-performance mechanical and energy recovery systems, is expected to reduce energy use by 33 percent when compared to national standards for equivalent-sized buildings.

Low-flow kitchen and bath fixtures and zero irrigation landscaping are expected to result in 30 percent less water use. Stormwater bioswales will reduce rainwater runoff and plant materials will filter contaminants from entering storm piping. Landscaping is native and drought-tolerant. No additional parking was added; instead, covered space was provided for bicycle parking.

Windows are operable, allowing for natural ventilation. Environmentally sensitive cleaning materials have been provided to janitors and students. Walk-off mats at the building entries reduce particulate contaminants from entering the building, improving indoor air quality. Persistent gas emissions / VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are minimized through the use of low-toxicity paint, carpet, adhesives and composite wood building materials. The roof is made of reflective materials to reduce the heat island effect of conventional roofing and paved areas in urban environments.

Environmental signage provides information on how to use the building, and there is a self-guided walking tour that points out sustainable features for students and parents. Students are encouraged to close drapes or blinds to reduce energy transfer to the outside, to turn off the tap when brushing their teeth until they’re ready to rinse and to use recycling bins on every floor.

University officials initially conceived a building targeted for a LEED Silver certification, but near the end of the design phase, the design team realized that with its integrated approach the project could qualify for Gold certification if they pushed a little harder. A student environmental group known as Students for Environmental Awareness embraced the challenge, along with university officials, and worked closely with the design team throughout the planning and construction phases. Their involvement reflects the university’s larger commitment to green practices on campus beyond Burlingham Hall.

In early February 2007, the university kicked off a campaign to green its offices by encouraging people to use paper products with high post-consumer recycled content, non-toxic markers and cleaners, and other eco-friendly products. As part of the campaign, university president Phil Creighton signed the Talloires Declaration—an international commitment to environmentally sound institutional citizenship that acknowledges universities as leaders for a sustainable future.

Burlingham Hall was developed by Gerding Edlen Development for the Oak Tree Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has leased it to the university for 30 years. Mahlum Architects was the designer and architect, and Lease Crutcher Lewis the contractor.

Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., 25 miles west of Portland, is one of the West’s first chartered higher education institutions. Founded in 1849, it is annually included as one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report and is ranked as one of the best tuition values in the West. It has an enrollment of more than 2,800 students.