Groundbreaking on Multicultural Center

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Multicultural Center at Western Illinois University, which was held Sept. 28, marked the start of something unique at Western. Construction began in October on the new complex.

Staff and students helped "dig in" during the Sept. 28 ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Multicultural Center.What makes this new building unique is nearly all of the facility, which will house the Women's Center, Casa Latina, the Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center and the International Friendship Club, will be constructed under green standards, including the installation of a grass roof. Western received a $100,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to offset costs associated with pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification, and also received a $40,000 grant to install a geothermal heating and cooling system.

The main floor of the two-story building will be comprised of four lounges connected to a large center activity room, a dance/multipurpose room with a removable wall to accommodate functions in the center area, a kitchen, a lactation room and a 15-terminal computer lab. The second floor will house separate office suites for each of the three centers, complete with a conference room for each unit, two group study areas, a library shelf-lined atrium, which overlooks the first floor area and a board room. The building will also feature an elevator to accommodate individuals with disabilities.

According to Ted Renner ‘96 MS ‘98, construction project coordinator, by building in an environmentally-friendly fashion, the facility can receive LEED certification, which is a series of points awarded for each sustainable-related initiative made during the building process. A geothermal system, a grass roof and a facility that does not have a parking area, which encourages pedestrian traffic and use of public transportation, are all recognized green initiatives. The grass roof is exactly what it sounds like, he added. A roofing membrane topped with engineered soil and Illinois-native grasses which require little upkeep, are installed in place of traditional black commercial roofing.

“A grass roof can have a 40-year life span, compared to a 20-year span using traditional roofing membranes. It provides more insulation and there is a decrease in heat buildup. These types of roofs don't contribute to what's called the urban heat envelope – higher air temperatures created by the sun radiating off black roofing materials,” he explained.

Other green building standards include the installation of energy-efficient fluorescent lighting, using a number of recyclable materials, including bamboo flooring, and closely monitoring the removal of construction material.

“Western has made a commitment to green building practices whenever it's feasible during a new construction project,” Renner said. “We're always shooting for LEED Silver Certification.”

Construction is expected to take 12-14 months, depending on weather conditions. A completion date has been tentatively set for November 2008.

Articles  |   1  |  2  |  3  | More... |