University of Iowa Information Technology Facility Achieves LEED Platinum Certification

The University of Iowa Information Technology Facility located on the Oakdale campus is the University’s first building to achieve LEED Platinum certification. The facility is 43,000-square-foot and cost $30 million to construct. [source]

Engineering Firms. Involved in the project were the following engineering firms:

Construction Companies. Involved in the project were the following construction contractors:

Sustainability Technologies. The sustainable aspects of the facility include:

Diverted construction waste from landfill: 341 tons (86 percent of total)
Green materials: 55 percent of wood-based construction materials were Forest Stewardship Council certified, and 32 percent of the total construction materials were recycled. Almost half of the building materials came from within 500 miles.
Efficient fixtures: will cut potable water use by an estimated 41 percent
Sustainable transportation: bicycle storage, shower facilities, and carpool parking
Bio-retention cell: 7,800-square-foot garden-like area on 6 feet of soil with 1,500 plantings will retain and absorb water runoff. It will serve as a natural filter and provide erosion control.
Minimal heat island effect thanks to a white roof and highly reflective materials
Low-emitting materials throughout the building
Optimal indoor air quality through enhanced ventilation and thermal comfort design, and implementation of a green cleaning program

By Greg Johnson