Community College Goes for (LEED) Gold

Construction has begun on St. Louis Community College's new Harrison Education Center to achieve LEED Gold Certification. The new building will be located at 3140 Cass Avenue in north St. Louis City.
 
KAI Design & Build is providing project management; programming; architecture; mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; interior design and cost estimating services on the $7.5 million project. Construction is expected to be completed in May 2010. 
 
“Sustainable design was a priority for the college’s administration,” said KAI Project Manager Melissa Kreishman, RA. “The KAI staff has extensive experience in the design/build of LEED-certified educational facilities, so when St. Louis Community College officials asked us to design their new center for LEED Gold, we were thrilled.” 
 
Environmentally-friendly elements incorporated into the Harrison Education Center’s design include:

• A construction Indoor Air Quality monitoring plan
• Use of low-emitting materials
• Indoor chemical and pollutant source control
• Controllability of lighting and thermal control systems
• Daylight views for 90 percent of the space
• Energy efficient heating and cooling systems
• Use of recycled materials in the building’s construction
• Alternative transportation options such as multiple bike racks and carpooling programs

“St. Louis Community College is committed to incorporating energy efficient and environmentally friendly concepts in all new construction, meeting the expectations of our students and citizens to demonstrate leadership in conservation and sustainability,” said Lori Thompson, director of physical facilities, St. Louis Community College.
 
The new 30,265-square-foot facility will serve 400-500 credit students and 4,500 continuing education students in the areas of environmental worker training, art, general science, small business entrepreneurship, automated office skills, healthcare and culinary arts. The two-story building will include an art studio, general science lab, multi-purpose community room, computer labs, classrooms, bookstore, commons area, outreach center and administrative offices.
 
Designs for the center include a public entrance facing the corner of the site, emphasized by a transparent elevator tower; high-tech audio-visual equipment throughout; a large central atrium; and open seating areas on the second floor overlooking the atrium.
 
Opened in 1994, the existing Harrison Education Center is located in the old Julia Davis Library building on Natural Bridge Road.
 
Kwame Building Group of St. Louis is serving as construction manager and owner’s representative on the project.
 

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