Kinesiology Building Awarded LEED Gold

Ballinger’s Kinesiology Building at the University of Michigan was recently certified Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Excerpted from the University of Michigan:

The School of Kinesiology Building renovation and addition project has earned LEED Gold building certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of sustainability efforts.

The building, originally constructed in 1915 and formerly called the Edward Henry Kraus Building, includes research labs, a vivarium, classrooms, faculty offices and common space.

The renovation and addition include a number of features that will lead to a predicted energy cost savings of 41 percent, as compared with a code-compliant building per 2007 guidelines from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Energy-saving facets include:

• New, well-insulated windows and doors at all exterior locations to provide improved thermal performance. The replacement assemblies have been tested in place to ensure minimal air infiltration.
• A skylight in a new atrium area to bring natural light deep into the building. Advanced lighting controls, such as daylight dimming, also conserve energy.
• LED lighting with occupancy sensors throughout the building. Historic fixtures at entrances were retrofitted with LED lamps.

The building also features low-flow plumbing fixtures and automatic sensor faucets, which are predicted to reduce water use by 34 percent compared to Michigan Plumbing Code standards. It also boasts close proximity to basic services and bus transportation.

The project included a 62,700-square-foot infill addition, featuring a three-story atrium and the aforementioned skylight. The addition enclosed the building’s courtyard, thereby reducing the climate cost of using new building materials.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. It recognizes sustainability efforts to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings on one of four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

The School of Kinesiology Building renovation and addition earned 62 points from the U.S. Green Business Council, out of 110 possible.

Since 2005, when U-M first received “green building” certifications, 18 projects have earned LEED designations. All new U-M buildings and additions with an estimated construction budget greater than $10 million are required to achieve at least LEED Silver certification.

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