Student residence at UW-Stevens Point achieves LEED Gold

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, which upholds sustainability as a cornerstone of academic and campus life, now has a new six-story residence hall that serves as a shining example of sustainable design and construction. The new Suites@201 has been awarded LEED^® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. LEED^® is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Designed by Engberg Anderson and Mackey Mitchell Architects, and constructed by Miron Construction, the 141,000 sf residence hall provides housing for 328 students in 82 apartment-style units featuring four single-occupant bedrooms, a common living room, kitchen and bathroom facilities dedicated to that apartment only. Another goal for the building was to have a variety and an abundance of social gathering spaces, which led to the integration of a lobby, lounge, office, and support spaces, as well as rooms dedicated to computer use, laundry, music, recreation and dining.

Prominent sustainable features include:

• Dynamic public spaces that highlight sustainable materials.

• Redevelopment of an existing site on campus.

• Rooftop solar panels for a solar hot water system.

• A controlled flow roof system and landscaped rock bed feature reduces the volume of storm water runoff into the municipal storm sewer system.

• 26% energy savings through efficient mechanical, lighting systems and a high performance building envelope.

• 94% of demolition and construction waste was diverted from the landfill.

During the design process, students were invited to participate in a sustainable design workshop, in which designers and students could brainstorm ideas. One of the ideas implemented is an energy monitoring system that records individual suites’ energy use. Each four bedroom residential suite is separately monitored for energy use, fostering awareness and conservation competitions.