CLEVELAND— The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) recently awarded LEED Gold certification to Cleveland State University’s Washkewicz Hall, home to the College of Engineering.

Completed in 2017, Washkewicz Hall is the sixth building on CSU’s campus to receive LEED certification.

“Washkewicz Hall’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. Cleveland State’s most recent certification is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.”

Sustainable features of Washkewicz Hall include the following:

• Site utilization that optimizes green space to reduce stormwater runoff;
• Low-flow toilets and faucets that reduce water consumption by 30 percent;
• Energy-efficient mechanical systems;
• 70 percent of electricity from renewable sources;
• 25 percent recycled steel in building materials;
• Light-colored roof material to reflect heat and maintain a cooler temperature within the building;
• Materials, paints, flooring and wall materials contain no- or low-VOCs for improved indoor air quality.

CBLH and Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED) led design and engineering on this approximately $46 million project. Gilbane was the construction manager at risk.

“[Throughout construction, we] used the building as a learning tool, involving students a faculty with regular tours and monthly bulletins about what work was transpiring,” explained Travis Okel, project manager, Gilbane Building Company.

“The team set out with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification, so knowing that the process of design and construction reached that ambitious target is very exciting,” said Jennifer McMillin, CSU director of sustainability, in a press release.

“As an institution of higher education, CSU has an opportunity to educate students about environmental sustainability both in the classroom and in the campus environment. Designing and operating green buildings is one of our opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to energy and water conservation.”

Other LEED certified buildings at CSU include Julka Hall (LEED Gold), Center for Innovation in Medical Professions (LEED Silver), Euclid Commons (LEED Silver), the CSU Student Center (LEED Silver) and the CSU Recreation Center (LEED Certified).

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Located at 10410 Ashwood St. on a site that previously housed tennis courts, the new event space features 250 retractable seats to accommodate theater productions, band performances and other events, as well as a lobby, concession and snack bar, storage space, AV room, green room and restrooms. Additional spaces include a drama classroom, band and orchestra suite and dance studio. Communications, janitorial and electrical rooms are also included onsite.

“It was a pleasure to partner with El Capitan High School to create a multifunctional events center that serves as a new focal point for the campus,” said Hank Withaar, vice president at C.W. Driver Companies. “We leveraged our extensive K-12 experience to build a facility that will serve students well and benefit the school’s performing arts programs for years to come.”

Nodding to the region’s iconic sycamore trees, the design incorporates the trees in the landscaping and reflects the lines and angles of the surrounding mountain range. El Capitan High School celebrates a 60-year history serving the educational needs of the Lakeside community.

C.W. Driver Companies partnered with Dena Johnson, project manager at Grossmont UHSD, and architect HED to bring the project to fruition. In addition to Withaar, the C.W. Driver team included Sam Myovich, senior project manager; Carrie Chambers, assistant project manager; Dan Howell, superintendent and Scott Blemker, superintendent.

This project is the latest addition to C.W. Driver Companies’ extensive portfolio of K-12 projects, encompassing more than 120 projects for 22 school districts throughout Southern California.

C.W. Driver Companies is a premier builder serving California since 1919. As a leader in general contracting and construction management services, C.W. Driver Companies is on the cutting edge across a broad spectrum of industries, including education, commercial/office, technology, healthcare/biomedical, mixed-use, assisted living, entertainment, retail, industrial and civic.

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