Joliet Junior College achieves LEED Gold

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Joliet Junior College (JJC) Facility Services Building a LEED New Construction 2009 Gold certification – making the  Facility Services Building the first of its kind on a higher education campus to receive this level of certification.

Designed by Legat Architects and built by Gilbane, the Facility Services Building’s new mechanical and electrical systems resulted in a 42% reduction in energy use and an annual savings of approximately 37% in operating costs.

Gilbane oversaw the procurement, installation and commissioning of all the LEED systems, working with contractors to ensure that they used LEED-compliant materials and submitting the documentation for all of the LEED construction-related points. The team also worked with JJC to lead a significant construction waste recycling effort.

Sustainable elements of the building include:

• Geothermal HVAC system to reduce heating and cooling loads
• Reflective roof surface to reduce heat gain
• Solar heat collectors tied to outside air intake to minimize the amount of energy used to heat the inside of the building
• Use of LED lighting in all areas of the building
• Motion sensors for lighting in occupied spaces
• Operable, high-efficiency windows to improve ventilation and bring in fresh air
• More than 75% of construction waste diverted from landfills
• Use of recycled and locally sourced materials during construction
• Low-VOC paints, adhesives, and sealants used in all spaces of the building

JJC’s Facility Services Building is part of a $220 million master plan aimed at transforming the college’s approach to sustainability and efficiency. The 42,500-square-foot facility replaces several scattered temporary buildings that previously housed the custodial, maintenance, planning/construction and roads/grounds staff at JJC. BD+C

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JJC’s Facility Services Building is part of a $220 million master plan aimed at transforming the college’s approach to sustainab [1]

JJC’s Facility Services Building is part of a $220 million master plan aimed at transforming the college’s approach to sustainability and efficiency.