Multicultural Center

Facilities Management

The Multicultural Center is built to LEED 2.2 Silver criteria. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Certification is divided into multiple categories, promoting areas such as sustainable sites, water efficiencey, energy, atmosphere, material resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design.

Multicultural Center Features

Green Roof

The Multicultural Center has a vegetative roof consisting of seven species of sedum plant materials. This system is superior to a traditional roof because it does not absorb heat, which increases cooling costs.

Natural Lighting

In the central atrium space, the large window facing north provides light to both the first and second floors without allowing direct sunlight to affect the heating and cooling of the building.

Bamboo Flooring

The floor of the performance space in the Multicultural Center is made from bamboo, considered to be a renewable and sustainable resource.

Recycled Flooring

The flooring material used in the kitchen, storage, and lactation room contains recycled rubber manufactured from tires.

Geothermal System

Geothermal Heating/Cooling System Diagram

The geothermal system consists of twenty-seven wells, drilled to an average depth of 380 feet each, which help heat and cool the building year-round.

Water Conservation

All of the plumbing fixtures in the Multicultural Center are low-flow fixtures to maximize water conservation.

Design

The Multicultural Center houses the Casa Latina Cultural Center, the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, and the Women’s Center. In addition, four themed lounges are featured, representing the diversity of the cultural centers and the international community. The large-scale exterior masonry serves as the unifying element of the building.

Before

The Auxiliary Services Building on Murray Street formerly housed the Casa Latina Cultural Center, the Western Illinois Credit Union and the University Post Office. The building, which was originally called the Auxiliary Enterprises Building, was constructed in 1957.

05/14/2007 - Former Auxiliary Services Building Demolition Set for June 1