CSU Transit Center Team Celebrates Gold

The U.S. Green Building Council has recognized the Transit Center expansion at Colorado State University’s Lory Student Center with LEED–New Construction (version 2.1) gold certification.

The expansion and renovation of the Transit Center at Colorado State University’s Lory Student Center has received gold certification for new construction through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. (Photo courtesy of Mark Young Construction)

The renovation of the north entrance to the Lory Student Center was a collaborative project between the city and university that provided Transfort riders with indoor space to wait for buses, a Transfort office, information desk, convenience store and space for RamRide, which offers students rides home from nightclubs.

The Federal Transportation Authority renovation added 14,458 sq ft of new space and revamped 7,749 sq ft of existing space.

The CSU Transit Center project team included CSU Facilities, the city of Fort Collins, Coover-Clark & Associates, Mark Young Construction, S.A. Miro, BCER Engineering Inc. and the Institute for the Built Environment.

The team incorporated many sustainable strategies into its design and construction. To combat heat-island effect—which occurs in urban areas when vegetation is replaced with asphalt, concrete, and buildings—light-colored reflective roofing was used for more than 75% of the roof surface. On the ground, light-colored concrete was selected instead of black asphalt. These strategies also reduce unwanted heat gain in the building, lessening the need for air conditioning.

Native and adaptive plants that are drought tolerant and reduce or eliminate the need for landscape irrigation were also incorporated into the project. By carefully selecting plants, the water-wise landscaping around the Transit Center reduced the need for irritation by 73% compared to a baseline landscape plan. The little water needed is raw, untreated irrigation water, not potable drinking water.

Not only is the Transit Center reducing water use through water-wise landscaping, it also features highly efficient indoor water fixtures. Low-flow faucets, automated sensors, efficient shower heads and a waterless urinal reduce the daily water consumption by 57% compared to a typical building. 

The Transit Center also features innovative and energy-efficient features. The building is designed to perform more than 30% better than a similar facility built to code. 

High-performance glazing, daylighting, lighting controls and increased R-values in the roof contribute to the the building’s energy performance. More than 75% of the spaces are designed for ample daylight and more than 90% of the spaces have outdoor views.

During the project’s design and construction, several CSU classes conducted activities related to the green building features, including student journalism and awareness campaigns, temporary signage along the construction boundary fence, a Web site tracking construction progress and student involvement in LEED coordination and documentation.

Engineering Prof Named CU Vice Chancellor for Research

Stein Sture, the Huber and Helen Croft Endowed Professor in the department of civil, environmental and architectural engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been named vice chancellor for research and dean of CU-Boulder’s graduate school.

Sture’s academic background, administrative experience and knowledge of CU-Boulder weighed in his favor as the top candidate for the position, Provost Phil DiStefano said Monday.

“Stein brings a wealth of experience to the position of vice chancellor and dean of the Graduate School,” DiStefano said. “He has the respect of the faculty, and I am confident that he will reach out to faculty in all disciplines to enhance the quality of research, scholarship and creative work and the quality of graduate work offered at the university.”

Sture has been serving as the faculty director of special projects and initiatives in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and also served as interim vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate school from October 2005 through July 2006. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from CU-Boulder.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School works in tandem with campus research institutes, graduate departments and local and regional agencies to expand research and graduate education opportunities.

The office works with faculty, students and staff to administer graduate student fellowships, support interdisciplinary graduate education through new programs and certificates and with CU-Boulder alumni and the community to both expand resources and to match research and graduate education offerings with the needs of the 21st Century work force.

Sture was one of five finalists who vied for the position, including Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate School Dean Susan Avery.

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