Duncan Student Center, O’Neill Hall and Corbett Family Hall — flanking the west, south and east sides of Notre Dame Stadium — were designed and constructed with the goal of seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
With an approximate total of 800,000 square feet, Duncan Student Center, O’Neill Hall and Corbett Family Hall were built to use less water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be resource efficient. At least 20 percent of all of the building materials contain post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content, including structural steel and reinforcement, concrete, metal studs, insulation, aluminum window framing, gypsum wallboard, terrazzo, spray fireproofing and ceiling tiles. Additionally, more than 20 percent of the construction materials were harvested or manufactured regionally, within 500 miles of the construction site.
The new buildings are also more energy efficient. “The mechanical systems providing heating, cooling and ventilation to the three new buildings are nearly 20 percent more efficient than that required by building code for new construction,” said Doug Marsh, vice president for facilities design and operations and university architect. High-performance window glazing with a high shading coefficient will reduce potential overheating. Using direct digital controls, the campus central building automation system will control lighting and HVAC through occupancy sensors and setback controls.
The buildings also have reduced heating and cooling energy loads thanks to the addition of a living roof covering nearly all of the flat roof surfaces of the three facilities. This installation is the largest green roof in the state of Indiana. Besides serving as additional insulation, the green roof mitigates storm water runoff, improves air quality, reduces noise, conserves rainwater and releases it back into the atmosphere.
Water efficient plumbing fixtures are expected to reduce water use by 35 percent compared to standard new construction, and LED lighting is anticipated to reduce energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent compared to conventional lighting. Low Emitting Vehicle priority parking spaces and 90 bicycle racks will promote efficient transportation.
Throughout the construction process, the adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings and flooring met the green standards for the associations that set those standards, and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled including concrete, metals, wood, cardboard, drywall and other materials.
Contact: Sue Lister, director of media relations, 574-631-7916, sue.lister@nd.edu