Village becomes the first student-housing project in the U.S. to earn the distinction
Bastyr University’s new Student Village recently won the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification, becoming the first student-housing project in the country of any scale to receive the highest green-building classification.
“We are immensely proud to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest honor for our student village,” said Daniel Clark, Bastyr University director of facilities and safety. “It is proof positive that Bastyr is leading the way when it comes to healthy living, and it complements our efforts in sustainable growth, environmental stewardship and community building.”
The village, which takes a new eco-friendly approach to student housing, is comprised of 11 halls that can house 132 students. Built to fit the natural setting of the university’s campus, the three-story halls are connected by a series of garden paths, courtyards and outdoor living spaces carefully designed to mitigate impact to the local environment. Each room in the halls includes a private bath, while each cluster of 12 rooms shares a common great room, kitchen, study areas, laundry facilities and storage.
The buildings are naturally ventilated, have radiant-floor heating and include such features as locally sourced, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified wood, energy-efficient appliances, and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and finishes. An additional eco-friendly feature is the “butterfly roof” design of each building. Roofs are angled upward on both sides to catch rain, which is then collected and released slowly into a nearby wetland, preventing flooding and erosion. Also, green roofs are being installed on some rooftops, where vegetation growing on them will help with insulation and heat absorption.
A formal ceremony in which LEED platinum-certified plaques will be placed on each building is scheduled for some time later this year.
“Bastyr University is committed to the highest standards in everything we do — from education to clinical care to student housing,” Clark said. “We are constantly striving to positively transform the health and wellness of our community, and it is exciting to see our hard work recognized.”
