Experts Brainstorm on Sustainable Features for New Student Commons

On Jan. 28, faculty and students from Manhattan College, architects, engineers and consultants gathered in Memorial Hall to discuss the sustainable vision for the new five-story, 67,400 square-foot student commons. In particular, the three-hour brainstorming session set goals to ensure that the new building will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and it will further have a significant green presence on the campus.

During the afternoon portion of the workshop, the team went through the LEED certification program, which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The team examined the LEED checklist and credit assignments and compared the list to the earlier green goals they had set, and determined that Manhattan College’s new student commons could make a commitment of reaching LEED gold certification.