Award-Winning Design

SNRE received a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the Dana renovation. It was the first major academic renovation to receive such a high rating for sustainable construction in the state of Michigan and among the first in the country. Significant aspects of the renovation that contributed to the LEED gold rating included:

• A 31 percent reduction in water use through the installation of low-flow plumbing fixtures, composting toilets, and waterless urinals;
• A 30 percent reduction in energy use through the installation of high-efficiency lighting and one of the first ceiling-mounted radiant cooling systems in the U.S.; and
• The retention of the building's historic 1903 structure and shell, while upgrading the building to create a state-of-the-art educational environment.

Structural Design Incorporated recieved a 2004 Engineering Award of Excellence Merit Award from the American Institute of Steel Construction for its design of the Dana Building Courtyard Infill. This Award is one of eleven granted nationally to outstanding examples of innovative steel construction.

Continued Research and Education Opportunities

Some of the renovation elements are now providing additional research and education opportunities within SNRE. Students and researchers at the Center for Sustainable Systems are collecting data to compare the performance of thin film and multicrystalline solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Dana Building. To continue to educate students and the public about green building techniques, SNRE installed educational displays about the renovation throughout the building. At a time of growing public awareness about environmental problems, we hope the Dana Building will inspire and provide a model for other "green" renovations of homes, offices, and larger buildings well into the future.