Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon set out to create a new residence hall they wanted to make it a true “living-learning” dormitory, where students would want to live, yet learn the importance of sustainability. This vision resulted in the Ackerman Hall, the first large-scale new construction residence hall in the United States to receive a LEED Platinum rating from the USGBC.
Ackerman Hall opened in September 2010 for the beginning of the Fall Quarter, housing 330 students and showcasing sustainable features throughout the facility. Air and water are heated through the use of solar panels and heat pumps, rain water is harvested for use later in the low-flow toilets, and lighting sensors are used that turn off automatically when a room is vacant.
Outside the building the walkways and fire lanes employ the use of Eco-Priora permeable pavers supplied by Mutual Materials. Using a mix of both the 4” x 8” and 8” x 8” units Atlas Landscape of Portland, Oregon created pedestrian areas that will exfiltrate the majority of stormwater directly into the soil, minimizing runoff into the storm drains.
