Our Built Environment

The University of Iowa incorporates green principles in the placement, design and construction of new campus facilities and major renovation projects, maintaining a minimum standard of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for new construction and major renovations. Facilities Management Planning, Design and Construction team also uses the UI’s comprehensive Design Standards & Procedures to ensure energy conservation is designed into new and renovated projects.

For a complete of list of UI LEED buildings and renovation projects, please link to the UI Facilities Management website, http://www.facilities.uiowa.edu/sustainable-initiatives/LEED.html

The University's commitment to sustainability and LEED certified building is captured in the 2009 - 2010 UI Annual Report: http://www.uiowa.edu/moment/chapters/2-campus/index.html

LEED Projects

• P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse, LEED Gold, First LEED project on campus, 2009
  
• Institute for Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation, LEED Gold, First healthcare project in the state, 2009
  
• State Hygienic Laboratory, 2010
• College of Public Health, 2011
• Stuit Hall Renovation (Old Music Building),First LEED renovation (2010)
• Pappajohn Institute for Biomedical Discovery Building, 2014
• Hancher Auditorium/Voxman Music Building/Clapp Recital Hall (flood replacement),,,
• Data Center
• Carver Hawkeye Arena Addition, and Renovation 2011

Learn more about the University's commitment to sustainability in its built environment...

Learn more about LEED...

Feature: Boathouse blends function with design

The Boathouse, located in Terrell Mill Park across from Mayflower Residence Hall, provides year-round training facilities for the University of Iowa Women’s Rowing Team as well as recreational and community rowing clubs. The facility includes locker rooms and medical training spaces, four large boat bays, ergometer room, general meeting space and an instructional/ training state-of-the-art rowing tank that was engineered with assistance from the UI Hydraulics Research.

The project is the first LEED certified building on campus (striving for LEED gold). As part of the LEED certification, credit is achieved for creating a sustainable site. The Boathouse design includes:

• Pervious concrete which allows for water to seep through the concrete and disperse through an 18” layer of rock. This process is in lieu of adding to storm water runoff that would occur if a standard concrete pad had been incorporated;
• An efficient geothermal heat pump system and daylight harvesting;
• Construction with significant use of local and recycled materials
• A design that took into consideration the proximity of the building to the river and incorporated flood mitigation strategies such as moving the mechanical and electrical services to the second floor and incorporating first floor wall and floor finishes that can be easily cleaned in the event the building floods.

The building appears to flow from its home on the river’s bank to the water, seamlessly blending indoor with outdoor. Nearly every space on both the main and second floors has a view of the park or river. Even the indoor practice tanks have an outdoor feel with a stretch of windows overlooking the river. A large roof terrace provides additional outdoor space for events and observation.

Feature: College of Public Health and stormwater management

The new College of Public Health building, scheduled for completion in 2011, is taking advantage of sustainable alternatives to stormwater management. Swales, rain gardens, no-mow lawn mix and a combination of tall prairie grass and native white oaks have been designed into the soon-to-be LEED accredited building. More information coming soon!