Oak View student housing at Oakland University
Oak View student housing at Oakland University
Oakland University's year-old student housing complex is a study in environmentally-conscious design and operation.
The university's achievements in preventing waste and lowering impact on the environment resulted in the $30-million Oak View Hall being awarded gold certification status in LEED - or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The U.S. Green Building Council certifies projects based on categories such as sustainability, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, and others.
The nearly 165,000-square-foot, 500-bed residence was built to drastically lower the amount of waste typically generated during construction. Ninety-five percent of the construction waste was recoiled and 15 perencet of construction materials came from recycled products. In addition 20 percent of construction materials were made regionally, eliminating environmental damage from transportation.
The operation of the dorm includes dual-flush toilets, low-flow bathroom fixtures and shower heads, and 18-percent less energy use than typical dorm buildings.
Bike racks, preferred parking for low-emission vehicles, and shielded light fixtures helped the project secure gold LEED status.
Source: Eric Reikowski, spokesperson, Oakland University
Writer: Kim North Shine
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