Rubloff Hall
Designed with environmentally friendly elements
In January 2006, Saint Xavier University officials broke ground for a new $9 million, 37,000-square-foot residence hall that incorporates many environmentally friendly design elements, including a green roof over 10 percent of the surface.
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| Artist's rendering of newest residence hall to be completed in August 2006 |
It is the first such university residence hall to be built in the greater Chicago area to be certified under the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) "green building” system, and one of only two currently under construction in the entire state of Illinois.
"We're anxious to set the pace in student housing," said Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D., president of Saint Xavier University.
"Green building” projects incorporate water and energy efficiency, using recycled and rapidly renewable materials, and maximizing the quality of the indoor environment. The 88-bed dorm, which has not yet been named, will feature environmentally friendly elements including recycled carpet, a roof with 1,000 square feet of low-maintenance plants for heating and cooling retention, and toilets with two flush modes — one for liquids and one for solids.
"The motivation and reasons for implementing green buildings are diverse but can be condensed into essentially wanting to do the right thing to protect the earth’s natural resources,” said Paul J. Matthews, assistant vice president for facilities management at Saint Xavier University.
The hall’s environmentally friendly design earned it a $90,400 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. Measures include "green roof” features to dissipate heat, an energy efficient lighting system; a building control system that reduces energy consumption and increases indoor air quality; a ventilation system that brings in outside air for free cooling; an energy recovery system that captures heat from exhaust ventilation; energy efficient double pane windows; and high-efficiency thermal insulation systems for the roof and walls; and a building control system that reduces energy consumption and increases indoor air quality, said Matthews. Project planners even included bike racks in the apartments to motivate residents to ride rather than drive, Matthews said. We wanted to build on the educational process and make better citizens," he said.
The new residence hall will allow Saint Xavier University to keep up with growing demand for on-campus housing. "This residence hall represents evidence of the university’s continued growth and strength as a Catholic, coeducational, comprehensive university,” Dwyer said. "With more than 5,700 students at campuses in Chicago and Orland Park, this new building will enable us to welcome 88 additional students to live on campus.”
The five-story building will feature a colonnade connecting the new residence hall to McCarthy Hall and will overlook the Schmitt Quad. It will house apartment-style rooms, including six one-bedroom units. The remainder will be two-bedroom units.
The new residence hall will bring the total number of students living on Saint Xavier University’s campus to 668. "This third new residence hall built on the campus within five years demonstrates the commitment of the university to increase its resident student population. Quality student housing and a vibrant campus life are critical steps to sustaining academic excellence,” said John Pelrine, Vice President of Student Affairs at Saint Xavier University.
Construction of the new residence hall will be completed in August 2006, in time for the fall semester. The builder is Henry Bros. Construction and the architect is Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Associates.
"This beautiful new residence hall will help Saint Xavier University meet the rising demand for the highest quality student residences. Our record enrollment has created a need for more places to live on campus,” said Steven Murphy, vice president of university advancement at Saint Xavier University.