The Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, has received LEED Gold certification for meeting standards that reduce the building’s environmental impact.
The $100 million, 275,000-square-foot facility, which houses Baylor's Hankamer School of Business, opened to faculty and students in August 2015.
The Foster Campus has expanded the business school’s footprint by 40 percent and increased opportunities for student and faculty collaboration.
The Hankamer Atrium is the centerpiece of the Foster Campus and showcases the school’s signature classrooms, such as the Financial Markets Center. A variety of learning spaces incorporate the latest classroom technology and provide flexibility to adapt as technology advances.
The Foster Campus achieved LEED Gold certification by carrying out strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
“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,” says Brian W. Nicholson, vice president for facilities and operations at Baylor.
Among the sustainable features:
- 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.
- Sustainable landscaping and irrigation systems increase water efficiency.
- Use of refrigerants and HVAC systems that minimize or eliminate the emission of compounds that contribute to ozone depletion.
- 65 percent of the construction waste generated on site was diverted from landfill.
- Recycled products and materials accounted for 33 percent of the total building materials.
- 49 percent of the total building materials were manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the Baylor campus.
- LED lighting is used throughout the building; lighting controls are provided for 97 percent of occupants and 100 percent of shared spaces to enable adjustments that meet needs and preferences.
- Thermostats with individual comfort controls in offices enable 50 percent of the building occupants to adjust temperatures.
- 215 out of 266 offices for faculty and staff have direct views to the exterior; daylighting controls in each of those offices enable occupants to adjust the level of lighting.
- Glass walls and doors admit natural lighting to all interior offices.
The Baylor campus already has several LEED-certified buildings, including the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center and the Allison Indoor Football Practice Facility.
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