2008 Woodie Awards
Saving some green
Trafton's new Ford Hall designed to be eco-friendly
by Dannielle Higginbotham
Issue date: 8/28/08
Section: Campus News
Even with skyrocketing energy costs, Minnesota State has found a way to both save some money and help save the environment.
Trafton's new Ford Hall, one of the first eco-friendly buildings in the MnSCU system, showcases many features designed both to help the environment and MSU's wallet.
"One of these 'green' features is a panel of windows in the corridors that allow sunshine to light the hallways," said Larry Kohanek, director of planning and construction at MSU. "Classrooms next to these hallways have windows on the same side, so the light from these hallways also leaks into the classrooms."
Other features include a device that extracts cold or warm air from the atmosphere, depending on the weather, and sends it into the classrooms.
"There are also vents that only run as much as needed," Kohanek said. "This means that we can manipulate them to run less on the weekends, when there aren't as many people in the building."
MSU spent an extra $800,000 for these new eco-friendly technologies - an investment that officials say will be paid back in less than five years.
"The university is saving itself more than $175,000 a year in energy bills," Kohanek said. "We'll get back the money we invested in 4.6 years and will be making money after that."
Aside from the eco-friendly and money-saving features, Ford Hall also offers a new space for students to congregate.
"One problem with Trafton is that it doesn't have a real space for students," said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Olson. "In between the old Trafton and the new Ford Hall we've built a large atrium similar to the student union where students can lounge or work."
Reaction to the new building has generally been positive.
"Our faculty is excited to take advantage of the new space," said John Knox, the recently appointed dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. "They like the eco-friendly aspect and love the new space."
"Everyone who has seen Ford Hall loves it, and people can see the eco-friendly aspect of it as soon as they enter the building," Olson said. "They walk in and see sunlight coming in through the windows lighting everything and can see our move to green."
While the college has no other plans for going green in the immediate future, officials are hoping to eventually have another building in which to test alternative-energy sources and
"This idea is still on the drawing board," Knox said. "It's still a ways away."
Olson sees the new building as a turning point for MSU.
"From now on, new buildings will be designed with green in mind," Olson said. "We want the university to be seen as a forward-looking place, one that leads the way on the path to eco-friendly technology."
The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Ford Hall is set to take place Sept.11, and the building will hold labs by the end of the semester.
"We're proud to have a building of this quality on our campus," Olson said. "MSU is thinking about the future, and green is the way we're going to go."
Dannielle Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
Trafton's new Ford Hall, one of the first eco-friendly buildings in the MnSCU system, showcases many features designed both to help the environment and MSU's wallet.
"One of these 'green' features is a panel of windows in the corridors that allow sunshine to light the hallways," said Larry Kohanek, director of planning and construction at MSU. "Classrooms next to these hallways have windows on the same side, so the light from these hallways also leaks into the classrooms."
Other features include a device that extracts cold or warm air from the atmosphere, depending on the weather, and sends it into the classrooms.
"There are also vents that only run as much as needed," Kohanek said. "This means that we can manipulate them to run less on the weekends, when there aren't as many people in the building."
MSU spent an extra $800,000 for these new eco-friendly technologies - an investment that officials say will be paid back in less than five years.
"The university is saving itself more than $175,000 a year in energy bills," Kohanek said. "We'll get back the money we invested in 4.6 years and will be making money after that."
Aside from the eco-friendly and money-saving features, Ford Hall also offers a new space for students to congregate.
"One problem with Trafton is that it doesn't have a real space for students," said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Olson. "In between the old Trafton and the new Ford Hall we've built a large atrium similar to the student union where students can lounge or work."
Reaction to the new building has generally been positive.
"Our faculty is excited to take advantage of the new space," said John Knox, the recently appointed dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. "They like the eco-friendly aspect and love the new space."
"Everyone who has seen Ford Hall loves it, and people can see the eco-friendly aspect of it as soon as they enter the building," Olson said. "They walk in and see sunlight coming in through the windows lighting everything and can see our move to green."
While the college has no other plans for going green in the immediate future, officials are hoping to eventually have another building in which to test alternative-energy sources and
"This idea is still on the drawing board," Knox said. "It's still a ways away."
Olson sees the new building as a turning point for MSU.
"From now on, new buildings will be designed with green in mind," Olson said. "We want the university to be seen as a forward-looking place, one that leads the way on the path to eco-friendly technology."
The dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Ford Hall is set to take place Sept.11, and the building will hold labs by the end of the semester.
"We're proud to have a building of this quality on our campus," Olson said. "MSU is thinking about the future, and green is the way we're going to go."
Dannielle Higginbotham is a Reporter staff writer
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