Rubloff Hall

Green Business is Good Business

Saint Xavier University's school colors may be scarlet and gray, but the new residence hall on campus has everyone thinking green.

The $9 million, 37,000-square-foot Rubloff Hall, which opened this fall, is the first university residence hall in the greater metropolitan Chicago area—and one of only two currently under construction in Illinois—to be certified under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. In order to receive the prestigious "green building" designation for this project, the University—assisted by its design [Solomon Cordwell Buenz] and building [Henry Bros. Construction] teams— demonstrated through detailed planning and careful construction the incorporation of a number of sustainable strategies that protect the Earth's natural resources.

Located at the center of campus on the west side of the Schmitt Quad, Rubloff Hall has increased the awareness among students of environmental issues that they will have to address in their lifetimes and promotes a collective mindset that, in general, encourages making the preservation of our planet a greater priority. According to Paul Matthews, assistant vice president for facilities management at SXU, colleges and universities all over the country are moving in greener directions with their construction and renovation projects, and he is delighted that SXU is helping to lead the way.

"Becoming more environmentally conscious with our building methods enhances the quality of life on campus for students and those of us who work here," he said. "It's good business."

The U.S. Green Building Council awards certification credits in six "green building" construction categories: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality; and innovation and design process. Rubloff Hall has earned enough credits in all six categories to reach the second (silver) certification level. The hall's environmentally friendly features include high-efficiency lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and insulation systems. Even the roof does its part to conserve energy and preserve the environment. More than 10 percent of the roof is a "green roof," which is covered with clay pots housing small plants that filter and purify rainwater before it seeps into the ground. The remaining white surface of the roof reflects—rather than holds—heat.

"The 'brain' of the building, so to speak, is the building computer system (BCS) that controls all major systems," Matthews added. "For example, the HVAC system will automatically adjust for the amount of CO2 [carbon dioxide] in the air for each space. The computer automatically adjusts features as needed, or we can adjust them ourselves electronically using any computer within the campus or remotely from home."

Matthews reports that 90 percent of the building's lighting comes from natural sources; the new heating units are 90 percent more efficient and 50 percent smaller than more traditional units; and 100 percent of the building's required power purchases are generated from "green sources," such as wind or hydro-electric power. Even the construction materials used, including adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets all required the "green" stamp of approval as well. In addition, the building construction crews recycled over 80 percent of their scrap materials.

Taking Advantage of a "Teaching Opportunity"

"The whole premise of sustainability is 'Let's keep it out of the landfill,'" Matthews said. "We have a teaching opportunity here. We want students to be the stewards of this building. There are recycling bins conveniently located on each floor, and we are expecting students to recycle. Bike racks have been mounted in several of the students' closets to encourage an alternate means of transportation around campus."

Apparently Jessica Mossuto '07 is up to the challenge. An elementary education major from Oak Forest, Ill., Mossuto is one of four resident assistants living in Rubloff Hall. She regularly uses her bicycle to get from one place to another on campus, and having access to energyefficient housing gives her another opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle that does not negatively impact the environment.

"I like the fact that Saint Xavier is concerned about the community," she said.

SXU's student population has been rising steadily in recent years, and presently, more than 5,700 students are enrolled at the Chicago and Orland Park campuses. Rubloff Hall is the third residence hall built on SXU's campus since 2001. According to John Pelrine, vice president for Student Affairs, the University's eventual goal is to be able to house at least 1,000 students at the Chicago campus. With Rubloff Hall, on-campus housing capacity is just over 700.

"At Saint Xavier, we regularly develop programs and services that support student success," Pelrine said. "Residence halls definitely add to the vibrancy of campus life...24-7. Our students will tell you that they had a better college experience because they lived on campus."

Rubloff Hall features a colonnade that connects the hall to McCarthy Hall. The Wi-Fi enabled facility has five floors and can house up to 88 students in apartment-style rooms, six of which are one-bedroom units. The Residence Life Office also is located on the first floor, and a conference center on the fifth floor offers picturesque views of the entire campus. For residents' safety and convenience, the "Cougar Card" identification card activates the entryways, elevators and laundry facilities.

Long-term Savings More than Make Up for
Front-end Costs

A $90,400 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation provided the seed money for the project's design and commission stages and will help with the final inspection costs. A tax-exempt bond issue obtained by the University has financed the remainder of the project.

Matthews acknowledged that it cost slightly more to build Rubloff Hall. [A similar building, built using more conventional methods, would have cost $291,400 less.] But he and others at SXU are convinced that the long-term savings will more than make up for higher front-end costs.

"A standard building would last 15 years before it needed substantive repairs," he said. "Rubloff Hall is expected to last twice as long. Also, if it were constructed in the traditional manner, energy costs would reach $90,000 annually. But the new hall will cost the University under $60,000 for energy each year. It's also important to keep in mind that initial costs become less and less as technology advances and our own human knowledge grows."

Greener construction methods call for new ways of maintaining energy-efficient structures. Matthews said Rubloff Hall is helping everyone on campus learn how to be "green sensitive." University engineering, maintenance and housekeeping staff members as well as the residents have been trained on how to use, clean and maintain the new building and its features.

"We [the resident assistants] have the most direct contact with the other students living here, and we need to take the lead in teaching them how to take care of the building," Mossuto added. An educational kiosk in the hall's foyer also enables residents and visitors to watch video clips that explain the building's efficiency.

"This project forever changes the way the University will approach a construction or renovation project," Matthews said. "Rubloff Hall is our education platform for future building projects on campus."

Rubloff would Applaud New Residence Hall

Rubloff Hall is named for Arthur Rubloff, a prominent Chicago real estate developer and former SXU trustee who passed away in 1986. His estate named Saint Xavier a beneficiary. Steve Murphy, vice president for University Advancement, noted that, while Rubloff is remembered for developing numerous Chicago-area landmarks, including downtown's Michigan Avenue "Magnificent Mile" and Evergreen Plaza, he "held great affection for the city's South Side and for the Sisters of Mercy." Rubloff joined the Board of Trustees in 1980 at the invitation of life trustee Jim McDonough and former trustee Frank Schaffer. Rubloff was awarded an honorary degree from SXU in 1985.

Vince Gavin, trustee for Rubloff's estate and former SXU trustee, said several of Rubloff 's residential development projects included "environmentally friendly" features long before the expression became popular. He believes Rubloff would applaud the hall's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

"Arthur would always take the extra steps or spend the extra money to make efficient improvements in any aspect of the building process...the lighting, HVAC, the landscaping..." Gavin said. "He believed these accommodations were important for the residents...just as important as the brick and mortar." To date, cash received from Rubloff's estate has exceeded $2 million.