Bowdoin Coffin St. Dormitories
- Location
- Brunswick, Maine
Features
- Geothermal heating system
- Large windows and skylights
- EnergyStar rated roof
- Rainwater system
- Indoor bike rooms
- Outdoor racks
Overview
- LEED Standing
- Silver
- Project Team
-
- Builder: Barr and Barr, Inc.
- Kyu Sung Woo Architect, Inc.
Bowdoin’s Coffin Street dormitories are LEED® Silver. Many components of the new dorms, including the materials, heating system and rainwater system all contribute to the overall sustainability of the buildings.
Features include:
- The geothermal heating system takes heat out of groundwater, reducing Bowdoin’s need for fossil fuels.
- Individual thermostats are present in each dorm suite, and all windows can be opened to promote maximum student comfort.
- Many of the materials used in construction are locally manufactured, and are composed of a certain percentage of recycled content
- During the construction process waste was carefully separated so much of it could be recycled
- Large windows and skylights allow light to filter through the building and reduces the need for electricity during daylight hours
- The roofs on both buildings are EnergyStar© rated, which means they are white instead of black. White roofs trap less heat, which mean the buildings do not require as much cooling as a typical dorm in hot weather.
- The rainwater system traps rain in a large tank, where it is purified by ultraviolet radiation and pumped to the toilets. This practice eliminates the use of treated potable water for toilet flushing.
- Indoor bike rooms and outdoor racks. These easily accessible rooms and racks encourage students to bike to class and into town, rather than drive a few blocks. This allows more parking for visitors, faculty and staff, and cuts down on gas emissions in the Brunswick area.
