Spelman College Breaks Ground for a ‘Greener’ Future

ATLANTA, GA (October 19, 2006) - Spelman College will take a bold step toward environmental responsibility and will make history at the same time with the ground breaking for a new “green” residence hall on Friday, October 20 at 12 p.m. This new residential facility, the first new construction of the 21st Century at Spelman, is on track to become the first in the Atlanta University Center community, and the first HBCU to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignTM certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. The building will be designed with a high priority on health, reduced environmental impact and increased resource conservation. The ground breaking will take place at the site of the new building on the new land acquired from the AUC, at the corner of West View Drive and Lee Street, behind the Milligan Building on West End Avenue, SW. 

    Spelman’s President, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum said, “Building ‘green’ is a smart investment in the future.” Expressing her concern about the sustainability of the environment, she added, “The very future of our planet is at stake. I believe we have an obligation to increase our own environmental responsibility at Spelman and to educate students about it. With the ground breaking for this new ‘green’ residence hall, we are, like the founders of Spelman, building for the next 100 years and doing our part to protect the environment for the generations to come.” 

   Art Frazier, Spelman’s director of Facilities Management & Services, detailed the additional firsts that will become part of Spelman’s legacy of leadership. “Out of the 237 Educational Institution members of the U.S. Green Building Council, Spelman is the first and only HBCU member and the first and only member in the AUC. And our ‘green’ residential facility will be the first LEED Certified Residence Hall in the state of Georgia.” Frazier clarified that actual certification will be awarded after the building is completed in Spring 2008. The LEED Consultant on the project is CxGBS/Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc. 

   The residence hall will be more than 201,455 square feet and will house 303 beds, raising current housing capacity from 1,176 to 1,479. There will also be a 175 seat-dining hall, and a 100-car parking deck . Student occupancy is projected for July 2008. The housing will be suite-style, with amenities. The anticipated composition is 50% two-bedroom apartments, 25% three-bedroom apartments and 25% four-bedroom apartments.