Stephen E. Epler Hall at PortlandStateUniversity is the first LEED® Silver mixed-use building in Portland. The project is a six-story, 130-unit student residence situated over ground-level classrooms and faculty offices. WALSH contributed to the achievement of that goal on a very tight budget through strategic value engineering efforts that preserved most green measures.
Portland State University Stephen E. Epler Hall
Size
The project is a six-story, 76,140 SF building with 130 residential student units situated over ground-level classrooms and faculty offices.
Clients
Architects
Awards
During construction the project diverted 98% of materials from landfill, earning exemplary performance. To support the local economy, the project used 54% locally manufactured materials with half of those generated from within Portland.
To connect students and faculty to the outdoors, daylight and views are provided for the majority of living spaces. Site landscaping is irrigated with 100% captured rainwater and, within the building, low-flow water fixtures reduce water use by 20%. Courtyard downspouts are splashed onto a courtyard funnel system so that students entering the building are exposed to the rainwater storage sustainable concept.
It embodies many features of sustainability, beginning with small Euro-style units that require less construction and less energy. The building also features natural ventilation throughout and uses waste heat collected from the apartment units’ shower drains to preheat water within the building. Sunshades help keep the building cool during summer months, as does a solar chimney system that naturally draws hot air out of the building when it is not wanted. For a healthy living and learning environment, Stephen E. Epler Hall used low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet and composite wood as well as implemented a green housekeeping program.
AWARDS:Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignSilver-Level Certification, 2004National Association of Homebuilders- Pillars of the IndustryBest Student Housing Apartment Community, 2004Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.Excellence in GreenBuilding Construction, 2004
Epler Hall represents a new direction in campus expansion—accommodating increasing numbers of students while reducing the carbon and economic footprints of new buildings. Demonstrated first year savings in water use allowed the University to obtain a reduction of $79,000 in the system development fees levied by the city on new construction.