Lillis Business Complex Offers Lessons in Sustainability
Students at the Charles H. Lundquist College of Business soon will
visualize the concepts of sustainability in a new way--in the form
of the $40-million Lillis Business Complex.
The Lundquist College's new home will slash power bills, set new
standards for environmentally friendly design and serve as a case
study in sustainability.
"Our curriculum reflects the values of the Pacific Northwest
business community," says Dean
Phil Romero. "One of the strongest of those values is the
recognition of the preciousness of our natural environment, and
the need to protect resources. Our students learn to make the most
of natural advantages; now their educational environment can do
the same."
The new 145,000 square-foot building at the heart of the Lillis
Business Complex will make the most of natural advantages by harnessing
prevailing breezes for cooling and the sun for heat, light and electricity.
The structure will be fifty percent more energy-efficient than state
code requires.
The building's energy conservation measures will include carefully
positioned rooms that can be used almost year-round without electric
lighting; external shades and light shelves to regulate temperature;
"smart" lighting that adjusts to daylight levels; and
sensors that turn off lights and other non-essential items in unoccupied
rooms.
An extensive ventilation system and extra thermal mass in the building's
concrete structure will enable it to retain more heat on cold days
and stay cool naturally through most hot days. Several photovoltaic
panels will generate a projected 35 kilowatts of clean solar energy.
The building also will save water through low-flow fixtures and
an "eco-roof," which will use rain to grow beneficial
vegetation rather than allow it to run off.
Builders will utilize "green" components such as materials
salvaged from the previous building, certified hardwoods and other
sustainable resources.
When the Lundquist College first began working on designs with
architects from SRG Partnership, PC, of Portland, Oregon, its primary
mission was to improve the outdated technology, limited space and
antiquated learning environment of its home in Gilbert Hall. Sustainable
design also was a top priority from the onset.
"Each constraint--like our emphasis on sustainability--only
provoked our architects' imaginations to produce an even better
design," says Romero.
The Lundquist College's emphasis on sustainability reflects a growing
understanding in the business world that environmental stewardship
yields many benefits. A 1997 Lundquist College study showed that
companies that adopt high environmental standards often enjoy higher
profits, new customers, more qualified workers and an enhanced public
image.
The green nature of the business complex also fits into a vision
for sustainability across the UO campus. The university's Sustainable
Development Plan, implemented in 2000, requires that design principles
such as those expressed in the Lillis plans be applied to all new
building projects.
"The Lillis project is an excellent example for the university
community and the community at large," says Christine Taylor
Thompson, an associate in the UO Office of University Planning.
"It shows how sustainability can be integrated into a design
without compromising the intended functions or costing significantly
more; in fact, the sustainable measures will enhance the comfort
and beauty of the building and result in substantial operating cost
savings. It just makes sense."
Lundquist College's emphasis on sustainability reflects a growing
understanding in the business world that environmental stewardship
yields many benefits.
And because sustainability is such a key business concept, it just
makes sense that the Lillis Business Complex will offer University
of Oregon students a tangible example of clear vision, careful planning
and wise resource management.
For more information on the Lillis Business Complex or to check
on the construction progress and view the Web cam visit: http://lcb.uoregon.edu/complex/
