Joliet Junior College achieves LEED Gold

With construction managed by Gilbane Building Company, Joliet Junior College’s Facility Services Building combines high-performance technologies with sustainable materials to meet aggressive energy efficiency goals.

By By BD+C Staff | March 6, 2012

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Joliet Junior College (JJC) Facility Services Building a LEED New Construction 2009 Gold certification – making the Facility Services Building the first of its kind on a higher education campus to receive this level of certification.

Designed by Legat Architects and built by Gilbane, the Facility Services Building’s new mechanical and electrical systems resulted in a 42% reduction in energy use and an annual savings of approximately 37% in operating costs.

Gilbane oversaw the procurement, installation and commissioning of all the LEED systems, working with contractors to ensure that they used LEED-compliant materials and submitting the documentation for all of the LEED construction-related points. The team also worked with JJC to lead a significant construction waste recycling effort.

Sustainable elements of the building include:

Geothermal HVAC system to reduce heating and cooling loads
Reflective roof surface to reduce heat gain
Solar heat collectors tied to outside air intake to minimize the amount of energy used to heat the inside of the building
Use of LED lighting in all areas of the building
Motion sensors for lighting in occupied spaces
Operable, high-efficiency windows to improve ventilation and bring in fresh air
More than 75% of construction waste diverted from landfills
Use of recycled and locally sourced materials during construction
Low-VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants used in all spaces of the building

JJC’s Facility Services Building is part of a $220 million master plan aimed at transforming the college’s approach to sustainability and efficiency. The 42,500-square-foot facility replaces several scattered temporary buildings that previously housed the custodial, maintenance, planning/construction and roads/grounds staff at JJC. BD+C

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