The Elizabeth Catlett Residence Hall at the University of Iowa in Iowa City has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Catlett Hall, which opened in 2017, is the largest residence hall on the campus. The 12-story facility houses about 1,049 students.
The university initially aimed for the residence hall project to achieve a LEED Silver rating, but the design was able to incorporate enough sustainable elements to earn the higher certification.
Among the sustainable features that helped the building achieve a LEED Gold rating:
•All site pavement consists of white concrete to reduce the heat island effect.
•The building has energy-efficient windows and the use of natural light throughout.
•The high-efficiency HVAC and lighting systems are controlled by occupancy sensors, which reduces energy costs 21 percent below the baseline.
•The ENERGY STAR-certified laundry and kitchen/dishwashing equipment and low-flow plumbing fixtures contribute to an estimated annual water savings of 43 percent.
•A sound construction waste management plan resulted in 76 percent of waste diverted from the landfill.
•The materials used inside the facility are low- or zero- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
•To minimize waste and maximize resources, 25 percent of the installed materials have a high recycle content (based on material cost), and 33 percent of the materials were harvested, extracted, and manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the building.
The residence hall has traditional student housing communities with pod-style restrooms. It also has a number of gathering areas and study rooms for students, as well as a learning commons.
