August 12, 2008
Residence hall achieves top marks for sustainable components
The Blackstone Hall student residence at Clark University has been awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it one of fewer than 10 LEED-certified residence halls in Massachusetts, and the first in the city of Worcester.
The University and Consigli Construction Co., Inc. worked with architectural firm Chan Krieger Sieniewicz of Cambridge to complete the project. The 208-bed facility includes many sustainable features, such as zinc-clad window boxes designed to deflect the sun's heat from the numerous windows offering enhanced natural day-lighting, and Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood throughout the building.
The structure, the second LEED-certified building for Clark, also incorporates energy efficient fixtures to reduce water consumption, and the building's air supply is 100 percent outside air, offering higher indoor air quality for its residents. In addition, the jobsite realized a recycling rate of over 97 percent, due to a rigorous on-site waste reduction program.
The Cathy '83 and Marc '81 Lasry Center for Bioscience at Clark received Gold LEED certification in 2007.
"We at Clark are thrilled to have another LEED certified building," said Paul Bottis Jr., director of Clark's Physical Plant. "Our students love the bright spacious suites and the many amenities that are within this new residence hall. The collaboration between Chan Krieger Sieniewicz Architecture and Urban Design and Consigli Construction Co. Inc. has produced a building that Clark University will be proud of for years. To have that building receive the Silver LEED rating is just icing on the cake."
To see photos and learn more online about Blackstone Hall, visit http://www.clarku.edu/alumni/clarknews/winter08/blackstone.cfm.
Consigli, a leader in environmental construction, currently has 19 LEED projects registered or certified with the USGBC, including three SPiRiT (the US Army's version of LEED) projects. Among them are the LEED Platinum-certified Harvard Blackstone Office renovation and LEED Gold-certified Cambridge City Hall Annex. Consigli has offices in Enfield, CT, Portland, ME, and Milford, Mass.