Ellis Hall at Ohio University has received LEED Gold certification for its environmentally sensitive renovation of the 116-year-old building.
The university says it used sustainable and high-performance construction strategies with regard to site development, energy efficiency, materials and resources, waste management, water efficiency and indoor environmental quality.
The original construction of Ellis Hall was completed in 1904, and additions were built in 1906 and 1908. The renovation modernized the building and provides modern classrooms, offices, student and faculty collaboration spaces, seminar rooms, and a student publishing space for the departments of English, Philosophy and World Religions.
“It is an honor to achieve LEED certification for the Ellis Hall renovation because it emphasizes the importance Ohio University has placed on student accessibility and sustainability in our buildings,” says University President M. Duane Nellis. “As one of the most iconic and utilized buildings on campus, we wanted to assure that students feel welcomed and are able to learn in a healthy, sustainable environment.”
Sustainability features include LED lighting, low-flow toilets and sinks, drought-tolerant trees and shrubs, new insulation, new windows and a modern, energy-efficient heating and cooling system.
Accessibility features also were a focal part of the renovation. The project included installation of a new elevator and improved wheelchair accessibility through a lift.
The project achieved maximum LEED points for community connectivity and public transportation access because it is situated on the university's iconic College Green. The location on the edge of the uptown Athens business district links building users to numerous city and campus transportation routes, as well as a variety of neighborhood amenities.
The project also earned LEED points for retaining much of the original building components and using innovative design strategies to connect circulation spaces to main public areas.
Ellis Hall is the 13th LEED-certified project on the Athens campus, and the fourth project to achieve Gold status.
The architect for the renovation is Champlin Architecture.
