Gettysburg College, a private liberal arts college in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, recognizes their collective responsibility as stewards of the environment. Understanding the College’s commitment to making its campus a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable place, Noelker and Hull Associates, Inc., partnered with the College to design the LEED Gold certified College Union Building. This collaborative effort, along with many other projects on campus, are making great strides toward reducing Gettysburg College’s carbon footprint.

The College Union Building, a new 27,000-square-foot addition, houses dining options, academic and college life departments, and other student services. Sustainable features include:

• bike racks on the building site to encourage bicycle use on campus;
• low-emitting materials for adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, flooring systems, and composite wood;
• regional materials, materials/finishes with recycled content, and certified wood;
• a white roof membrane to reduce the heat island effect;
• exterior light fixtures that are designed to limit light pollution;
• high-efficiency mechanical systems and building automation to reduce energy consumption;
• high performance glass and sun-shading devices for sun/thermal control; and
• passive ventilation through the design of operable vertical bifold exterior doors and operable clerestory windows in the main atrium space.