ESU Honored at Ceremony for Achieving LEED Gold Status

Posted by: admin on April 25, 2014, No Comments

The Monroe Hall Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification Ceremony featured a plaque unveiling on Monday, April 21, to mark the prestigious honor awarded to East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.

Monroe Hall, a historic residence hall that was converted into classrooms and other learning spaces on ESU’s campus, garnered (LEED) Gold Status recently.

Along with ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., Jim Rizzo, the Project Manager for Highland Associates, the architect of record, spoke during the ceremony. Kristine Dolan, a 2012 ESU graduate who is the chief of staff and notary public to State Representative Mario Scavello; John Bloshinski, ESU facility project manager and architect; and Bill Pierson, ESU assistant director of facilities management for planning and engineering, also were in attendance.

The prestigious honor was awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which is a nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

Monroe Hall was originally constructed in 1937 as a double loaded corridor dormitory. It was refurbished in 1975, but did not receive a full life-cycle replacement and upgrade of all architectural, mechanical and electrical systems.

Due to the historical significance and prominence of Monroe Hall, ESU requested and received approval of a Commonwealth capital project to renovate the building as a classroom and office building rather than demolish the building. The Commonwealth funded $7.8 million of the renovation project and ESU provided an additional $1.1 million for the project. The design firm, Highland Associates, was tasked to design the building renovation for a LEED Silver Certification. With the help of the design professional and the construction contractors (Contracting Systems, Inc., Worth and Company, Inc., Linco Construction, Inc., and Wind Gap Electric, Inc.), the project achieved a LEED Gold certification.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has encouraged new campus buildings to receive LEED Silver certification. Monroe Hall’s Gold certification is one step above what PASSHE hopes new buildings will receive.