The University of Toledo, always seemingly under construction, plans for all future renovations at a minimum to qualify as LEED silver. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design and was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and is the leading green building rating system in the country. UT is proud to be known as a leader in alternative energy and sustainability, and is proud of its recent Gold certification for the Memorial Field House.
Instead of demolition, UT chose to renovate the Memorial Field House. Vacant for over 25 years, the Field House was built in Collegiate Gothic style in 1931. Former home to Rocket basketball games and rock concerts, the Field House now is home to the English and Foreign Language Departments. Features include 54 classrooms, 70 offices, a 250-seat auditorium, class laboratories, film viewing rooms, and the latest in A/V, acoustics, and information technology capabilities.
Turning an arena into classrooms is a massive undertaking. A second floor and a third floor loft required constructing a new building within an existing building. Most of the exterior and structural elements were kept and construction debris was recycled when possible. Responsible parties are especially proud of the steel trusses which are prominently featured in the atrium.
Environmental features and a healthy environment for the building's occupants are a main goal of LEED construction. New plumbing fixtures use 30% less water. Energy efficient windows were installed along with a central skylight. An energy-efficient heating and cooling system was installed. The roof is reflective to reduce the building's heat island effect*. As opposed to adding parking spaces, they chose to add bike racks to encourage sustainable modes of transportation. They also added open green spaces equal in size to the building's footprint that will remain green for as long as the Memorial Field House exists.
Other recent LEED construction in Toledo includes the Reynolds Corner Branch Library and the Hawkins Elementary School.
*The heat island effect is when cities are hotter than surrounding rural areas. This occurs when buildings absorb ultra violet rays, raising temperatures. Heat islands can increase summertime peak energy demand, raise air conditioning costs, air pollution and green house gas emissions, heat-related illnesses and water quality. UT chose to use a reflective roof. Another option is living roofs. See links for related articles.
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