GreenFocus: GreenBuildingLeslie RoweJune 12, 2014Green Focus0 Comments 0 If you’ve visited Duke’s Durham campus in the last two years, you’ve probably heard the buzz around Environmental Hall, the LEED platinum-striving new home of the Nicholas School. It’s finally completed, and I’m currently writing to you from the airy, sunlit third floor. The building is gorgeous; there is no doubt. You enter the building by bridge. Almost the entire exterior is glass. There is a huge stone arch out front, which is the product of a delicate balance between artistry and engineering. But there are also many characteristics of the building which are largely unseen, but serve a very specific purpose, which is to make as small an impact on the environment as possible. Here are just 5 of the not-so-obvious green features: • South-facing, horizontal exterior fins complement north-facing vertical exterior frets. In addition to providing shade in multiple seasons, these structures also reduce bird impacts with the glass exterior. • A “green roof” of water-wise edible plants, irrigated with recycled rainwater will eventually be the home of several experimental plant communities. • Photovoltaic rooftop panels and a solar water heater provide roughly 9% of the building’s energy needs. The water heater provides the domestic water for the building. • A south-facing thermal corridor traps air which then acts as insulation between the exterior of the building and the interior office spaces. This allows for less energy to be used to heat or cool the areas where people spend most of their time. • 100% Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood was used for all of the interior structures and finishings. If you are on campus regularly, we encourage you to visit. Bring your laptop to our many open work areas, and take advantage of the courtyard orchard as a place to sit and relax. If you have a short visit planned, please come see us, and we’d be happy to show you the new digs.
