- Muhlenberg College’s newest building has won three different sustainability awards and certifications
- The building, at 2400 W. Chew St., opened to students in January
- The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and sits on land that once held a fraternity house.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Muhlenberg College’s newest building has racked up three different sustainability and green-building awards and certifications, officials said Wednesday.
"We're proud that Fahy Commons is putting a spotlight on Allentown and the Lehigh Valley for cutting-edge sustainability," said Kathleen Harring, Muhlenberg’s president. "The new building is also home to many of our public-facing programs so we're excited about the opportunities this brings for greater collaboration and connection, both locally and globally."
The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, 2400 W. Chew St., opened to students in January. The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and sits on land that once held a fraternity house.
With more than 180 solar panels and a 10,000-gallon rainwater cistern, it’s also one of the first buildings in the world expected to achieve the Living Building Challenge Core, a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that reward housing efforts that produce more energy than they use.
The building was recently named a winner of the international 2023 METROPOLIS Planet Positive Awards, officials said.
The awards recognize "the most creative projects and products from around the world that benefit people and [the] planet, as well as firms and professionals leading the way to a better built environment."Muhlenberg College officials
“The awards recognize ‘the most creative projects and products from around the world that benefit people and [the] planet, as well as firms and professionals leading the way to a better-built environment,'” according to a news release from the college. “[They] represent the highest achievements today in design that addresses climate change, ecosystem health, human health and equity.”
And, in mid-October, the building won theSustainable New Development or Major Renovation category in the Green Building United 2023 Groundbreaker Awards.
“Fahy Commons is the first building in the world to reach the ambitious goal of Living Building Challenge (LBC) Core Ready certification, incorporating myriad features that positively impact the local campus ecology while showcasing the college’s commitment to environmental stewardship and a vibrant and inclusive community,” according to the awards program, included in the release.
“At the heart of Fahy Commons' design, energy efficiency achieved through efficient HVAC systems, cutting-edge lighting technologies and a super-insulated envelope reduces building energy use by 70% over conventional structures.
“In addition, a 73 kW rooftop solar array generates renewable energy, contributing to the building's net-zero energy goals.”
Last summer, Fahy Commons was named a LEED Platinum-certified structure by the U.S. Green Building Council, officials said. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system worldwide.
In addition to holding the schools of graduate and continuing studies, the building also houses the office of community engagement, art studio spaces, the Muhlenberg Institute of Public Opinion and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program.
