High-tech hall hugs trees
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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Students rang in the new year with a brand new high-tech science and mathematics building, Madrone Hall.
On Monday, Jan. 4, classes began in Madrone Hall. The new building hosted a “green” ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 16. While the building is open for classes, construction is still taking place throughout.
According to an e-mail from Dan Lara, dean of science, engineering and technology division, contractors will be working throughout the day, but will try to stay out of the way of classes and students. Additional construction will mostly take place over the weekends, as so not interfere with classes.
Deron Carter, a physical science instructor, said “I taught two classes today (Monday) and they went well. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but the classrooms are certainly functional.”
The new building is 27,000 square feet and has earned a silver certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the U.S. Green Building Council.
“It’s an amazing building, and I think once it’s done it’s going to be one of the gems of campus,” Carter said.
Some of the attributes that earned the building LEED certification are the floor-to-ceiling windows which have solar panels embedded. Described in a program handed out during the ceremony, the building is designed to use “19 percent less energy than current requirements established by the Oregon Energy Code.”
“LBCC is able to present to its communities with a science and mathematics building that will inspire and motivate our students,” Lara said at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The landscaping around the building will also be sustainable, utilizing features like native plants that use less water and require less maintenance. This area will be the Bob Ross Learning Garden which will be a teaching tool for students in biology or horticulture classes.
Madrone Hall is part of a two phase project. Phase one was the building of Madrone Hall and the Bob Ross Learning Garden, and phase two is the remodel of White Oak Hall, formerly known as the Science Technology building.
Lara also says that once both phases are complete, LBCC will be able to serve an additional 3000 students in the math and sciences.
The renovation of White Oak Hall will update the building to fit technology of today. It will also add a number of sustainable features to the building, such as a solar panel gazebo to generate energy for the building and a green roof garden.
Renovation of this building is scheduled to be completed in May of 2011.
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