Stewardship Is Good Business: Baylor University’s New Business Campus Achieves LEED Gold Certification
Media Contacts: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275 and Cynthia Jackson, Hankamer School of Business, 254-710-7628
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WACO, Texas (April 28, 2017) – A new badge of honor is now on display at Baylor University’s Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, home of the nationally ranked Hankamer School of Business. The dynamic new facility, which opened to faculty and students in August 2015, has been awarded LEED Gold certification after satisfying rigorous standards that address the building’s environmental impact.
The business school hosted a ceremony Friday as representatives from the university and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) unveiled the official LEED Gold plaque on the second floor mezzanine.
“LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is well aligned with our values at the Hankamer School of Business, so it was a priority from the very first day of planning, through the design process and during construction of our new home – the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation,” said Terry S. Maness, D.B.A., dean of the business school.
The LEED rating system, developed by the USGBC, is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
The Foster Campus achieved LEED Gold certification by implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Some of the specific features include:
- a solar-reflective roof
- dimmable LED lighting
- direct views of exterior and direct sunlight in 215 out of 266 faculty/staff offices
- daylighting controls that allow individuals to adjust the level of lighting based on brightness throughout the day
- natural lighting for all interior offices through glass walls and doors
- individual thermostat controls
- use of low-emitting materials to reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants
- sustainable landscaping and irrigation systems that increase water efficiency and reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems
“LEED certification is an arduous process, and we were committed from the very beginning to meeting and exceeding those high standards from the U.S. Green Building Council,” said Brian W. Nicholson, vice president for facilities and operations at Baylor. “The remarkable Foster Campus was designed to provide a truly distinctive and collaborative student learning experience, which includes modeling for our students how business practices can reflect faith and responsibility to our world.”
Baylor’s Pro Futuris strategic vision calls for the University to be a community recognized for Judicious Stewardship, “where the value generated by and derived from a Baylor experience is supported in part by the prudent management of resources,” including expanding the use of sustainable and renewable resources.
Baylor already has several LEED-certified buildings, including the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center and the Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility, which are part of the Highers Athletic Complex; Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center; George W. Truett Theological Seminary; Marrs McLean Science Building; and the East Village Complex (Teal Hall, Earle Hall and East Village Dining Commons). In addition, the Business School’s Executive MBA program in Austin operates from a LEED Gold building near MoPac and Parmer Lane.
Stewardship is not only good for business – stewardship is big business. According to research done by USGBC, more than 720,000 jobs in Texas were attributable to green construction between 2011 and 2014.
“Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “As a new member of the LEED family of green buildings, Foster Campus is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”
The architectural design of the $100 million, 275,000-square-foot Foster Campus features a highly corporate and sustainable business environment. The new campus expanded the business school’s footprint by 40 percent and increased opportunities for student and faculty collaboration.
The centerpiece Hankamer Atrium showcases the school’s signature classrooms, such as the Financial Markets Center. A variety of learning spaces incorporate the latest classroom technology while providing flexibility to adapt as technology advances. The 350-seat McClinton Auditorium accommodates a wide range of guest lectures and events, and the adjacent Meyer Conference Center hosts seminars, symposia and conferences for business professionals of all kinds.
Strategies used in the various aspects of design and construction of Foster Campus include the following categories:
SUSTAINABLE SITES
• To reduce impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitat, 82 percent of the non-roof hardscape surfaces will be shaded by landscaping within five years and 83 percent of the roof surface is solar reflective.
WATER EFFICIENCY
• To increase water efficiency and reduce burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems, potable water use was reduced by 39 percent. Landscaping and irrigation systems reduce potable water consumption by 68 percent.
ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE
• The project used refrigerants and HVAC systems that minimize or eliminate the emission of compounds that contribute to ozone depletion and global climate change. Additionally, the ï¬re suppression systems do not use ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs, HCFCs, or halons.
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
• To decrease landfill and incinerator use, 65 percent of the on-site generated construction waste was diverted from landfill.
• Recycled products and materials were 33 percent of the total building materials.
• To reduce transportation-related environmental impact and protect virgin resources, 49 percent of the total building materials were manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the Baylor campus.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
• Adhesives, sealants, paints and flooring are all low-emitting materials to reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants that can damage air quality, human health, productivity and the environment.
• LED lighting is used throughout the building, with lighting controls provided for 97 percent of occupants and 100 percent of shared spaces to enable adjustments that meet needs and preferences.
INNOVATION IN DESIGN
• Thermostats with individual comfort controls in offices allow 50 percent of the building occupants to adjust temperatures to individual needs and preferences.
• 215 out of 266 offices for faculty and staff have direct views to exterior and direct sunlight; daylighting controls in each of those offices allow occupants to adjust the level of lighting based on brightness throughout the day.
• All interior offices receive natural lighting through glass walls and doors.
• All classrooms and conference rooms have lighting system controls enabling adjustments that meet the needs and preferences of the occupants of each space.
REGIONAL PRIORITY
• Vegetative open space adjacent to Foster Campus is slightly more than the building footprint. The project received a bonus point for achievement because it was identified as a geographically-specific environmental priority.
ABOUT BAYLOR BUSINESS
Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business provides a rigorous academic experience, consisting of classroom and hands-on learning, guided by Christian commitment and a global perspective. Recognized nationally for several programs, including Entrepreneurship and Accounting, the school offers 24 undergraduate and 13 graduate areas of study, as well as Ph.D. programs in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship and Health Services Research. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter @Baylor_Business .
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.