Page 40 - College Planning & Management, September 2017

A GREEN PLACE TO STAY
level to intake fresh air, while windows at the top of the atrium are opened to release warm air, creating a natural stack effect.
And more: Photovoltaic panels supplement power production for the hotel. Oberlin’s on-campus 2.27-MW solar array covers 10 acres, and can generate approximately 3,000,000 kWh of electricity annually. Rainwater is harvested and used for landscape irrigation, while on-site bio-retention basins slowly filter stormwater. A high-performance façade and exterior automatic solar shading devices reduce heat gain.
Local Ties
The interior design for the project uses natural, salvaged or recycled materials and sourced 50 percent of building materials from within 500 miles from Oberlin. Whenever possible, materi- als with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were specified to minimize off-gassing and improve interior air quality.
As part of the Green Arts District, art was obviously to play a major role in the project’s design. Ohio native Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, created a three-part installation called “An Ecological Primer: A landscape in 3 parts” that spans the hotel’s lobby and grounds.
Guests Go Green, Too
The Hotel at Oberlin takes a proactive approach to educat- ing guests on how they can impact building performance and participate in conservation measures. Guest rooms are fitted with indicator lights that show when outdoor conditions are suitable for opening the windows. When the windows are open, sensors automatically shut off the radiant panels and ventila- tion system. Educational signage and an information kiosk that displays energy consumption data are presented in an easy-to- understand manner, making sustainability education part of the guest experience.
A Step Forward
It makes perfect sense that this highly innovative facility would take shape at Oberlin. The Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center and Hotel at Oberlin represent a step forward on the continuum of sustainable design that has helped, and continues, to shape and define the college and city. CPM
Jim Curtin, AIA, is a principal at Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB, www.scb.com).
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