The new Ohio Union building at The Ohio State University has received a silver rating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program administered by the U. S. Green Building Council to encourage and facilitate development of more sustainable buildings. It is the second building on the Columbus campus to receive the prestigious LEED certification; the first was the Ohio 4-H Building in 2008.
The Ohio Union, a $119 million, 318,000 square-foot multipurpose student center, opened March 29 after two years of construction and eight years of planning. Sustainability was built into nearly every aspect of the building, from site selection to furnishings.
“We are very pleased with the LEED certification,” said Javaune Adams-Gaston, vice president for student life. “We wanted to create a building that used resources responsibly and minimized negative environmental impact, and we are incorporating these goals into all building construction and renovation projects undertaken by the Office of Student Life.
Tracy Stuck, assistant vice president for student life and director of the Ohio Union, said, “From the earliest steps of the planning process, students set the goal of achieving LEED certification, and the project planning team was very good at keeping environmental concerns at the forefront throughout the project.”
The Ohio Union received LEED points in many areas, including water use reduction, energy-efficient building systems, use of recycled and low-emitting building materials, use of local and regional materials, indoor air quality control, storm water management, location on a bus line, bicycle storage and changing rooms, and water-efficient landscaping. The installation of a pulper to convert food waste to agricultural use and reduce impact on the sewage system was given high marks, as was the use of recycled building materials and locally sourced materials.
“Sustainability is an ongoing process,” said Molly Ranz, assistant vice president for student life and director of facilities planning and logistics. “The factors that resulted in the LEED certification will continue to pay dividends in energy savings and environmental responsibility throughout the Ohio Union’s long life.”