The new Central Campus Classroom Building and Alexander G. Ruthven Building renovation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The university says the combined project renovated the Ruthven Building, which houses central administration offices and research space, and constructed the Classroom Building, which features a 550-seat auditorium and other active-learning classrooms.
The project included 176,000 gross square feet in renovation space and 48,000 gross square feet in new building space.
The Ruthven building has been transformed into a modern, energy-efficient facility while preserving the historical character of the building’s exterior. The reuse of the building’s envelope and restoration of the rotunda reduced the need for materials, thereby reducing overall embodied carbon associated with the project.
Additional sustainable features of the complex:
- Low-flow bathroom fixtures that reduce potable water use by more than 30% compared with a similar building.
- More than 31% energy cost savings compared with a similar building.
- A ventilation system in compliance with ASHRAE 55 and ASHRAE 62.1 requirements for optimal occupant comfort.
- Low greenhouse gas-emitting materials, including paints and coatings, flooring, wall panels and insulation.
- Native and adaptive plantings that do not require permanent irrigation.
- 82% of project construction waste diverted from the landfill.
- Proximity to public transportation and basic services such as restaurants, shops and places of worship.
All new University of Michigan buildings and additions with a construction budget greater than $10 million are required to achieve at least LEED Silver certification and use carbon-based building standards enacted in 2022.
