As a member of the United States Green Building Council, Millsaps College directed the design team to incorporate “Green Building” principles into the design of this project. “Green Building” is generally defined as the practice of designing and constructing of buildings in such a way to optimize energy performance and indoor environmental quality as well decreasing the impact on the environment. “Green Building” principles that were incorporated into the design:
● Construction activity pollution – controlling erosion and water discharge during construction activities
● Site selection – Reuse of a previously developed site
● Development Density and Community Connectivity - Construct the building within ½ mile walking distance of basic services (restaurant, convenient store, school)
● Parking Capacity – Minimized amount of parking directly related to this project
● Storm Water Management, Quantity Control
● Water Use Reduction by using water efficient fixtures
● Installation of Energy Management System
● Installation of an energy efficient HVAC system
● Installation of individual HVAC controls per suite
● Installation of energy efficient boilers and domestic hot water heaters
● Installation of energy efficient lighting
● Construction of an energy efficient building envelope
● Low VOC Paint
● Control of indoor chemical pollution – sealing of janitors closets
● Non-smoking building
● Use of construction materials with high percentage of recycled
● Use of rapidly renewal resources for construction materials
● Use of regional materials
Millsaps College will celebrate the official grand opening of three new residence halls, featuring the latest trends in student housing, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27 outside the entrance of the middle building. The new halls pay homage to the traditional architecture of many of Millsaps’ original buildings and incorporate many modern, green building principles.
“An increase in the desire of our students to live on campus and the college’s desire to offer our students not only the very best education possible, but the best college experience possible, led us to build these residence halls,” said Todd Rose, vice president for campus programs and alumni. “The many living and learning spaces available in these residence halls will help enhance and build community for our students.”
John, Charles and Susanna Halls opened this fall and house 138 students in suite-style living. The single rooms have double beds, a closet, desk, and sink and share a jack-and-jill style bath with an adjoining room.
The four-story brick buildings are each 17,472 square feet and feature multiple living and learning spaces including front porches, large living rooms, kitchens, multipurpose rooms and conference rooms on the main floor of each building. On the garden level, an additional recreation room and laundry room are separated by a glass wall to allow students to keep an eye on their laundry while studying or watching television.
“Our focus for the residence halls was to offer a setting that encourages academic excellence, fosters community and focuses on sustainability,” said Maribeth Wann, Special Projects Director and LEED® AP for the President’s office.
Wann also designed the interiors of the halls which include “green” fabrics and carpeting, and original artwork by Richard McKey, Rose Simmons, Tony Green and Lauren Barksdale.
Designed by Treanor Architects of Lawrence, Kansas the buildings incorporate many green building principles including the installation of water efficient fixtures, energy efficient boilers and domestic hot water heaters and energy efficient lighting. In addition, the designers incorporated the use of regional materials along with recycled and rapidly renewal resources for many construction materials.
As primarily a residential campus, with approximately 80 percent of Millsaps students living on campus, the new residence halls will allow more students to live on campus all four years.
“When we’re recruiting students from across the nation one of their top priorities is to see where they are going to live,” said Denny Bardos, dean of enrollment management at Millsaps. “Prospective students will be hard pressed to find nicer residence halls anywhere.”
