May 6th, 2005
For more information, contact:
Allison Stoddard, (207) 773-3625,
astoddard@wright-ryan.com
First University-Owned Building in Maine Certified
by U.S. Green Building Council
USM, Harriman Associates, Wright-Ryan
recognized for eco-friendly facility
University of Southern
Maine’s recently renovated and expanded John Mitchell Center has
become the first university-owned building in the state to earn LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification by the
U.S. Green Building Council for its environmentally responsible
design. The 23,000-square-foot Advanced Technology Wing and associated
renovations of the Mitchell Center on USM’s Gorham campus, designed by
Auburn-based Harriman Associates and constructed by Portland-based
Wright-Ryan Construction, Inc., is also the first LEED-certified
building designed and built by Maine architectural/engineering and
construction firms.
The U.S. Green Building
Council is a national coalition of building industry leaders working
to promote the design and construction of buildings that are
environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to work.
The LEED Certification designation recognizes achievements in green
construction, building function, and design practices in the
development of sustainable buildings.
“Harriman Associates
was proud to be part of a team that was led by a client such as USM
that had a vision for sustainability to our environment, not only for
today, but for future generations,” says Harriman Associates’
President Edward A. Cormier, P.E.
The John Mitchell
Center renovation project, which began in June 2002 and was completed
in November 2004, was made possible when the 120th Session
of the Maine State Legislature authorized and Maine voters approved a
$4-million bond issue. Thanks to a fundraising campaign and the
efforts of Senators Susan M. Collins and Olympia J. Snowe, and
Representative Thomas H. Allen, USM matched the state funds with
private and federal monies.
Harriman Associates’
architectural and engineering staff worked closely with USM Manager of
Engineer and Architectural Services Dana Gray to oversee the LEED
design, documentation, and certification process. Construction
manager on the project was Portland-based Wright-Ryan Construction,
Inc. whose role was instrumental in locating approved building
materials, finding innovative recycling resources, and keeping
extensive documentation.
“Achieving LEED
Certification symbolizes USM’s commitment to being good stewards of
the environment. But our goal could not have been realized without the
help of a diverse team of dedicated individuals at USM, including USM
Facilities Management and members of faculty and staff, as well as the
professionals at Harriman Associates, Wright-Ryan Construction, and
their subcontractors,” says Gray.
Wright-Ryan is a
founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council - Maine Chapter,
and is actively working towards producing a new generation of
buildings that promote sustainable building practices. Other “green”
projects Wright-Ryan has completed include the Maine Audubon Society’s
Environmental Center at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth and a straw bale
insulated building on the Merriconeag Waldorf campus in Freeport.
With construction
completed, USM’s Mitchell Center, home to USM’s School of Applied
Science, Engineering, and Technology (ASET), now houses new
laboratories and more classrooms to respond to the need for
engineering and technology programs.
“This is a great
example of a sustainable building giving students who will be entering
engineering and technology professions a sense of environmental
responsibility,” says John Wright, USM dean of ASET.
Among the green
features of the design and construction of the Mitchell Center are:
·
Construction and design
materials, such as carpets, paints, panels and other elements, were
selected because they emit fewer problematic compounds into the air
during manufacture, installation, and post-installation.
·
Nearly 60 percent of wood
purchased (based on total costs) for construction were purchased from
local, Forest Stewardship Council Certified sources, thereby
supporting sound forest management practices, reducing
transportation-related pollution, and boosting our region’s economy.
·
Fifty percent of the
electricity used by the Mitchell Center effectively will be fossil
fuel-free for at least the first two years of operation, utilizing a
contract for the “environmental attributes” of electricity generated
by wind turbines.
·
Water-efficient plumbing
fixtures used throughout the Mitchell Center will permit the facility
to meet its needs using 26 percent less water.
·
Almost 90 percent of the
construction-related wastes were recycled or reused, resulting in
cleaner air for our community as less waste is processed in local
incinerators.
The John Mitchell
Center, built in 1965, is named after USM Professor Emeritus John
Mitchell of Gorham. Mitchell was instrumental in the creation of what
is now USM’s School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology,
and during his career, he was recognized as a national leader in the
field of industrial education.
For more information, contact Allison
Stoddard (207-773-3625,
astoddard@wright-ryan.com).
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