The Innovation in Design Credit Catalog describes a potential ID credit as Common Area Services. The intent of that credit is to demonstrate innovative performance by enhancing the quality of life for campus occupants while reducing vehicular traffic out of campus. CREDIT REQUIREMENTS: The requirements appear very specific and include requirements to incorporate a comprehensive design for a centralized facility to house a cafeteria, gym, travel agency, credit union, printing/publishing services as well as laundry services. While our project includes many of these specific items, a cafeteria, a wellness suite, and potential for travel planning and purchase in the computer lab, it would be redundant for our facility to provide other services provided elsewhere on campus, such as laundry facilities and gymnasium. The Student Center has been designed with the intent to enhance the quality of campus life, build community between students, faculty, staff and the community, and bring a large number of facilities and services under one roof. Prior to designing this building, when interviewed, students complained that there was nothing to do outside of classes and they wanted healthier food choices. The New Student Center was designed to minimize the need for students (as well as visitors, faculty and staff, during office hours) to leave campus to go to Easton Mall and other places to obtain the described services. In addition to the items listed above, the building will provide a convenience store, a bookstore, study and social lounges, a campus radio station, a computer lab for personal usage, small, medium and large meeting rooms s available for on-campus group meetings, and the project encloses the pedestrian access to the gym, basketball courts, dance area, showers and lockers in an adjoining facility less than 200 feet away. PROJECT APPROACH TO ACHIEVING CREDIT: In providing the documentation for this innovative design credit, we propose to: - Estimate the reduction of vehicular usage by providing these additional services to the campus and surrounding community by the addition of this new building. - Calculate the environmental benefits and the reduction of impacts in comparison to a conventional campus complex including how many people visit each facility/day and the subsequent reduction in CO2. - In addition, we will provide an itemized list of other facilities and services currently available on campus within walking distance of the new student center.
The project team is requesting clarification as to whether an innovation credit can be awarded based on the provision of a centralized facility that includes various basic services, in the core area of a university campus. The project team is proposing to demonstrate that the centralized facility will reduce the CO2 associated with student/visitor commuting. While the incorporation of the various services into the centralized facility is commendable, it is common practice for educational institutes to incorporate a variety of services within a centralized facility like this, to serve the needs of the student population on campus. It is further unclear as to how the project team would reasonably establish a baseline for comparison, and therefore it is also unclear how the proposed approach would demonstrate significant quantifiable environmental benefits through the expected CO2 reduction. Applicable Internationally.