case studies
Since 2012, all newly constructed and renovated campus residence halls at Appalachian State University have been LEED certified. This project, however, deepened the commitment by certifying through Green Built Homes. APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY PHOTOS
Residence Halls Go Green App State Invests in Sustainably Certified Homes for Students BY SUSANNA SHETLEY new residence hall completed at Appalachian State University in the summer of 2021 was the culmination of years of work and evidence of a commitment to sustainability that runs throughout the school’s culture. School officials decided to certify the new residence hall through Green Built Alliance’s Green Built Homes certification system to ensure the project would be held to the highest sus-
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tainability standards. “Sustainability is in our DNA,” said Lee Ball, chief sustainability officer at Appalachian State University. “Here at Appalachian State, sustainability is a tradition instead of a trend. The institution attracts faculty, students, and staff who care deeply about both people and places.” The university began the planning process for this project in 2016 with Chancellor Sheri Everts’ vision to develop new residence halls and replace 1,700 on-campus
beds in residence hall facilities which the university had been using for 50 to 70 years. “Be assured these buildings are far more than brick and mortar,” said Everts. “They are homes for our students — places where they will make memories, build community and discover what it means to live and learn like a Mountaineer.” The developer and contractor selection process began in fall 2017, the design process began in spring 2018, and construction be-
gan in spring 2019. “Beyond the need for additional beds and parking, Chancellor Everts and her leadership team recognized the importance of modernizing our residence halls to meet the expectations of prospective students in the future, which included developing a costeffective, sustainable project,” Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Matt Dull said. App State partnered with RISE: A Real Estate Company to complete the multiphase, $191 million
www.GREENBUILT.org
