Case Study
Overview
Saint Xavier University - Rubloff Hall
Rather than simply adding another residence hall to their southwest Chicago Campus using traditional design and building methods, Saint Xavier University seized the opportunity to create a high performance structure using the best practice standards of “green” technology available.
The Rubloff Hall is a case study for sustainable design practices and construction for higher educational student housing and another significant step toward Mayor Richard M. Daley’s vision to make Chicago the greenest city in America. Rubloff Hall is the first such university residence hall to be certified under the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) “green building” system. It is one of only two currently under construction in the entire state of Illinois. “We’re anxious to set the pace in student housing” said Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., president of Saint Xavier University.
Major Project Goal
Green Building: It is Saint Xavier University’s desire that all aspects of the project will be accomplished so as to minimize any current or future environmental impact. All attempts must be made to design and construct the site and buildings to meet or exceed the requirements necessary to be certified at the Silver Level of the LEED Green Building Rating System™, Version 2.1 of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Green Building
USGBC LEEDTM Program: The building will be designed and constructed to achieve a certified rating within the given program for the space and available budget. Requirements for green building items that are part of the LEED™ process will be incorporated in to drawings and specifications for the facility to provide clear direction to the construction team.
Measurable goals:
The project obtains a Silver LEED™ rating with 33 to 38 LEED points.
- The project has been submitted at the Gold LEED™ rating with 45 LEED points pending.
- Optimization of Energy Performance achieved was 30% better than the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – 1999 Energy Standard with an excellent envelope, displacement ventilation in common areas, variable volume air handlers/pumps, heat recovery in make up air unit, high efficiency condensing boilers and a remote barrel high efficiency air cooled chiller earning 4 LEED points for reducing emissions to the environment from coal-fired electric generation plants linked to global warming and ground level ozone (smog).
- Elimination of CFC and HCFC refrigerants in air conditioning equipment earned the prerequisites for Energy and Atmosphere and 1 LEED point for reducing emissions to the environment linked to global warming.
- Sustainable building material choices used include low volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) for adhesives, paints and carpet which earned 3 LEED points. Construction materials have over 10% in recycled content; over 20% are manufactured locally and above 50% harvested locally earned 4 LEED points.
- Water efficiency and use reduction from low flow plumbing fixtures and use of the campus lake for irrigation water earned 4 LEED points.
- Reducing impact on our ecosystems with sustainable site selection on an existing parking lot and near public transportation earned 2 LEED points.
- Bicycle storage hooks in student rooms, preferred parking for car pools, development of open space adjacent the building, storm water management with a green roof and slow drainage swales and landscape designed to minimize heat islands earned 7 LEED points.
- Discarded construction waste material recycled or salvaged was over 90% and earned 2 LEED points.
- The building architectural design allows a direct line of sight to vision glazing and views of the lake and landscaped quad for occupants in over 90% of the regularly occupied spaces and earned 2 LEED points.
- We Introduce adequately dried ventilation (make up) air [i.e., with a dew point of 53F (60 grains/lb of dry air) or less] directly into the student rooms. This is accomplished with AHU-2, a single common make up air unit with an integral exhaust system with heat recovery, cooling coil and reheat coil.
- We maintain positive pressure in the student rooms to minimize infiltration of hot and humid air. The supply and toilet exhaust fans are monitored with air flow stations and controlled with variable frequency drives to maintain positive building pressurization in the student rooms during all occupancy periods.
Conclusion
The main driver for Rubloff Hall green design is the recognition of increased productivity from a building that is comfortable and enjoyable and provides healthy conditions. Comfortable occupants are less distracted, able to focus better on their tasks, and appreciate the physiological benefits good green design provides with day lighting, environmentally sensitive materials, outside views and thermal comfort.
Since it’s opening to students on August 19, 2006, the Rubloff Hall has yet to receive formal accolades, but Saint Xavier University and the design team are particularly satisfied by the overwhelmingly positive reaction from students and administrators occupying the building relating to comfort. We believe the Saint Xavier University Rubloff Hall sets the pace for green design and indoor environmental quality in student housing.