Multicultural Center Achieves LEED Certification

November 8, 2010

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Associate VP for Student Services Earl Bracey, VP for Student Services Garry Johnson, President Al Goldfarb and Deputy Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Ted Renner
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MACOMB, IL -- As the first new student-funded building in several years on the Western Illinois University Macomb campus and as the first building on the WIU-Macomb campus to be built under green standards, the WIU Multicultural Center -- which houses Casa Latina, Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center and the Women's Center -- has another mark of distinction: being the first WIU facility to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification.

The 14,000-square-foot facility on Murray Street/C.T. Vivian Way opened in August 2009 after nearly two years of construction. Western received a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to offset costs associated with pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification, and received grant funding to install a geothermal heating and cooling system.

According to Ted Renner, deputy director of facilities planning and construction at WIU, to achieve LEED Silver Certification, which is a series of points awarded for each sustainable-related initiative, the construction process, including materials used, must adhere to strict guidelines set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system and fluorescent lighting; using a number of recyclable materials, including bamboo flooring; installing a vegetative roof instead of a traditional membrane roof; and closely monitoring the removal of construction material helped the center succeed in achieving LEED certification.

"Western has made a commitment to green building practices whenever it's feasible during a new construction project," Renner said. "We're always shooting for LEED Silver Certification and we're so pleased to have achieved certification for Multicultural Center."

Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing