With an energy-producing canopy, low-flow water fixtures, and a design that minimizes light pollution, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's newest building is also its first to target the gold standard in green design.
Greenspun Hall sits on a prime location on Maryland Parkway next to the Student Union. It is targeting a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification.
The 120,000-square-foot building consists of four interconnected towers. Its photovoltaic array shades the facility's distinctive courtyard and will offset about 13 percent of the building's energy consumption. A chilled-beam heating and cooling system is expected to save $83,000 per year over traditional systems.
The facility brought most of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs units into one location to foster collaboration among departments. The college -- which includes environmental studies, social work, journalism, public administration, criminal justice, communication studies, and marriage and family therapy -- addresses many quality-of-life issues in the region. Its 190-seat auditorium hosts classes as well as community events.
The construction project is an example of the kind of public-private partnerships 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ is forming to advance as an institution amidst tight budget times. The Greenspun Family Foundation contributed $37 million, or 40 percent of the building's construction costs, for the project. It is the largest single donation to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and one of the largest in state history. State funds covered the rest of the project's costs.
