One of the newest additions to the University of Maryland campus, the state-of-the-art Edward St. John Teaching and Learning Center (ESJ) is not only a marvel of modern technology and design, but it’s also the university’s newest green building.
ESJ, like all new campus buildings was built to meet the design standards set forth by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to achieve the minimum of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification. The official standing is still pending but building designers and collaborators are confident it will meet the requirements needed for LEED silver certification.
In addition to featuring teaching labs, individual and group study spaces, flexible classrooms to encourage collaborative learning , and enhanced site design, the building also features some of campus’ most profoundly stated green features.
The building is the first new campus building to immediately feature compost collection, available on all floors of the building and in all restrooms. The restrooms are also highly energy and water efficient with low flow toilets and urinals; motion sensor faucets and lighting controls that turn lights off when the room is unoccupied. These same lighting controls are featured in rooms throughout the building.
The project also included the renovation and adaptive reuse of Holzapfel Hall. By reusing this existing building, the project team was able to reduce the amount of materials needed for construction. The building features a high efficiency Building Automation System including occupancy, temperature and carbon dioxide sensors that control the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system and provide fresh air for the labs.
Thanks to a grant from the University Sustainability Fund, the building features two green roofs, providing educational opportunities for UMD students and improving campus stormwater management. The roofs can easily be seen from the top floor through windows that provide daylighting, thus reducing energy use and providing building users with a view of green space.
Users of the building can also learn more about ESJ green features on a display screen in the front lobby area, which includes real time updates about energy and water use as well as other green building features.
Visit our Green Buildings page to learn more.