"The building's 'green design' reflects many of Dr. Marshall's deeply held values about maintaining your health and protecting the environment for future generations," said Dr. Elizabeth King, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

This one-of-a-kind building was created by Dr. Louise Jones, the college's interim associate dean for facilities and planning, and professor of interior design. Jones, who has a doctorate in architecture, created a building where everything is made of recycled or renewable materials.

"The building was designed to provide a healthy environment for learning without negatively impacting the environment," Jones said. "We've done more than simply make it wheelchair accessible. Every desk and chair can be adjusted to accommodate the tallest basketball player or the smallest gymnast. The Marshall Building serves as a model for academic settings in the 21st century."

A variety of recycled and recyclable materials were used throughout the building. Materials used on the stairs are made from recycled tires. Recycled marble and granite are used on classroom floors, and recycled pop bottles form the backing for the Solenium flooring. The classrooms contain the latest in instructional technology, including 1,000 Internet connections, and departmental offices are intermingled to encourage collaboration among the many disciplines.

Jones worked with TMP Associates, an architectural/engineering firm in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., to design the Marshall Building. The Christman Company, a construction firm based in Lansing, Mich., oversaw construction.

Already the building is serving as a model for other new construction.

"Having a one-of-a-kind building is not enough, though," King said. "Our hope is that what we've done at Eastern Michigan encourages others to go beyond our efforts, so that we are not one-of-a-kind for very long."

(Adapted from "Eastern Michigan University to dedicate 'green designed' Health and Human Services Building Oct. 6, http://www.emich.edu/public/public_information/releaseindex.htm)

Universal Design

• Design building to address everyone's needs regardless of age, ability, or physical stature
• Accommodate a range of teaching and learning styles (furniture & equipment)
• Use technology to enhance learning for people with visual, hearing, or learning impairments
• Protect and enhance indoor air quality for people with allergies, asthma, or MCS
• Strategies and materials:
  Elevators and 36" doors
  Adjustable height tables and chairs
  Lever handles on doors
  Residential research laboratory that includes kitchen, bath, social and sleeping areas

• Indoor air quality
• Sustainable design
• Environmentally responsible design

• HVAC air exchange and filtering system
• Reduce off-gassing
• Use natural light
• Energy conscious design
  airlock entries,
  sensor controls for day-lighting
  efficient heating and cooling equipment
• Furniture
  DesignTex: McDonough Collection wool and ramie fabrics, no volatile organic compounds, CFC's or formaldehyde
  Weiland Tables with biocomposite top, no formaldehyde, no VOC
  Isobord Enterprises engineered strawboard substrates made from leftover straw, with no harmful emissions
  Steelcase Prodegy chairs are 100% recyclable from water blown foam, water based adhesives, powder coat paints, no shipping materials
  Vecta Kart classroom chairs are aluminum, ergonomic, recyclable
  Herman Miller Aeron chair from recycled aluminum, plastic, steel and nylon, can be easily recycled, blanket shipping
  Knoll SoHo chair from PETRA: a resin made from recycled plastic bottles, VOC free adhesives, 98% recyclable, blanket shipping
• Walls
  Zolotone waterbased multicolor coating system with no hazardous ingredients and low VOC
  Benjamin Moor ECO Spec 100% acrylic latex, low odor, no VOC, no mercury or lead
• Ceiling
  Armstrong Tile with HumiGuard biocide coating to inhibit mold, mildew and bacteria
• Floors
  Linoleum made from renewable, natural linseed oil, pine rosin and controlled forest wood flour, long wearing, natural bactericide
  Interface Solenium resilient textile flooring with PTT polymer surface and recycled backing, antimicrobial, impermeable
  Ecosurfaces made from recycled rubber tires, slip and stain resistant, no VOC adhesive, resilient and durable
  Cork peeled from live trees, waterbased finish, low maintenance, high abrasion resistance
  Crossville ECO-Cycle porcelain stone tile from recycled raw materials, slip resistant, durable
  Bamboo environmentally friendly grass floor that is harder than red oak, abrasion, moisture, chemical and stain resistant
  Madera solid surface tile from wood fibers, lifetime cracking warranty, natural insulator, moisture and fire resistant
  Oceanside tiles from 85% post-consumer glass, translucent and impervious

• Supportive Environment -- student commons, atrium with plants, natural light, comfortable seating, faculty and student artwork
• Student & Faculty Community -- classrooms and offices in same building
• Faculty & Faculty Community -- 3 Departments on same floor, shared gathering room and kitchen
• Faculty & Administration Community -- offices on same floor, shared conference rooms, shared gathering room and kitchen

For additional information:
http://www.emich.edu

This document was last modified on 02/20/2002 11:13:45 AM