Fields of Green and Silver
Standing at the top of
University Park, James Madison University’s 65-acre complex dedicated to sport,
one can survey the numerous green fields, walking paths and students
participating in sport and take for granted the planning and care that went
into creating a space based on sustainable practices of design. JMU’s continued dedication to stewardship of
the natural world was rewarded when University Park received the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design silver certification from the Green Building
Certification Institute.
Built on the corner of Port
Republic Road and Neff Avenue, University Park houses facilities for athletics
and recreation. According to Bryna Dunn,
director of sustainability, planning and design for Moseley Architects, the
firm that designed University Park, the university was committed from day one
to following LEED design standards, which was unique considering the size and
scope of the outdoor project.
Director
of University Recreation Eric Nickel said, “LEED certification is difficult to
do in an outdoor facility, so it is great news to learn that we were able to
achieve this. We had worked and hoped for it in our planning, but you are not
scored or awarded certification until after the project is complete.”
According
to Nickel, two of the major sustainable efforts in construction included
reusing rock and runoff water retention. The large amounts of existing on-site
rock were crushed into the gravel used in the landscaping. Large cistern systems
were installed underground and these retain and filter runoff water before
returning it to ground sources.
Among the other sustainable features of
University Park are vegetated space on
over 45 percent of the site; day-lit offices and meeting rooms; and the use of
plumbing fixtures that reduce water use by 45.2 percent compared to the LEED
baseline. In addition, public transportation access, parking for fuel-efficient vehicles,
construction waste management, use of regional and low-emitting materials and
water efficient landscaping added to the project being awarded LEED silver
certification.
“While I have been impressed with many of the green features that have
been worked into this project, perhaps one that I am most excited about is the
energy efficiency of the sports lighting,” said Dunn. Musco sports lighting uses a series of reflective
surfaces to reduce light “spill” and direct a higher percentage of light on the
playing surface. According to Nickel the
lighting is very efficient in terms of energy usage per lumen of light, both in
terms of the energy used by the lamps themselves and the way that the fixture
is engineered.
George
Nasis, the managing principal of the project and a vice president of Moseley
Architects, said, “We enjoy working with JMU and share their commitment to
sustainability. In working on a project
dedicated to improving health and wellness, it’s rewarding to carry that goal
throughout the design and construction process.”
For more information on LEED Certification
University Park
University Recreation
JMU Sports
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January
30, 2013
