Gustavus Adolphus College Receives Major Green Recognition

ST. PETER, Minn. — The Beck Academic Hall at Gustavus Adolphus College has earned LEED Platinum certification. The $30 million, 125,000-square-foot building is the third academic building to attain LEED Platinum certification in the state of Minnesota.

Constructed in 2010, the building was designed to achieve 44 percent more energy and 30 percent more water than code requirements. High-efficiency condensing boilers are used for heating the building, while a comprehensive set of solar panels, both photovoltaic as well as solar thermal sit atop the building’s roof, according to the college.

“Environmental sustainability was integrated into all aspects of the design and construction of Beck Academic Hall and that was very intentional,” said Gustavus Adolphus College President Jack Ohle in a statement. “Gustavus strives to be a leader among colleges and universities when it comes to sustainability practices and taking care of the Earth, so achieving LEED Platinum certification for Beck Hall was a priority.”

Sustainable features of the building include stormwater management, bicycle storage, reduced light pollution, water-efficient landscaping, use of recycled content in building materials, use of low VOC-emitting construction materials, greater use of occupant-controllable lighting and thermal comfort systems, and designated parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. During construction, 75 percent of waste was recycled.

“Beck Hall’s LEED Platinum certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC, in a statement. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Beck Hall serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”

Beck Hall was designed by BWBR Architects and constructed by Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. Both firms are headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.