The 15,000 square feet facility is the first building on the campus to attain the certification. It has been designed by Amherst’s Kuhn Riddle Architects with Springfield’s Eastern General Contractors, Incorporation serving as the general contractor. It is the on-campus home of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band. The building has been completed in early 2011 with about $1.2 million in private donations funding its construction.
The facility imbibes various green features such as high-performance mechanical systems, super-insulation, and aggressive glazing. The building envelope has been designed to curb heating and cooling needs. Its ventilation system comprises energy recovery to upgrade quality of indoor air and offers 30% more fresh air over existing standards. It features occupant-adjustable temperature levels to suffice individual needs. The building has also been equipped with occupancy and daylight sensor-controlled lighting systems which help it run low on energy consumption.
The facility incorporates efficient plumbing fixtures which cut down potable water usage by 47,800 gallons per year and water consumption by 37.6%. Use of low or zero-VOC paints, sealants and adhesives add to the building’s sustainability. Among its other eco-friendly features include use of regionally-sourced and recycled materials, reclaiming over 75% of its construction debris, and presence of drought-tolerant native plants on site.
