The Suites
Big ups to my alma mater! Spelman College took a bold step toward environmental responsibility and will make history this week when it opens “The Suites,” a new 201,455 square-foot “green” residence hall, this Saturday. Designed with a priority on conservation, The Suites uses energy, water and other resources more efficiently to help reduce impact on the environment. Recently featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 303-bed facility is on track to become the first building at a historically Black college or university to attain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. Way to go green SC!
Nathan Creitz
I wonder how many other universities are doing this sort of thing around the country. I know Harvard is really strong environmentally. It would be cool to hear what other people are doing to make our universities more sustainable and creation friendly. Congratulations on your alma mater! I would love your thoughts on my blog since this is the sort of stuff I really like to talk about.
August 22, 2008 at 4:38 pm
L Cobb
As a current Morehouse College student, I have had to drive past the construction and completion of this amazing building, eyeing it jealously from Westview Dr. I wish Morehouse had more forward thinking people in terms of green building. Kudos Spelman!
August 22, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Sally DeLeon
Congrats to Spelman College! In response to the previous post asking what other universities are doing, here are a few links:
564 U.S. College and University Presidents have now signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment and are now working on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their campuses. Dillard University in New Orleans has signed but Spelman has not. To learn more about it go to http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
The National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program has some great publications that tell the story of what campuses around the country are doing about Climate-Change by working to make their campuses more energy-efficient and renewable. Check these out at http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/
Rocky Mountain Institute has been working with schools on green building projects for awhile and is now soliciting applications from interested campuses to receive some seed funding, consulting and collaboration for their climate action plans. See http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid529.php
The Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) also has a lot of resources on their website, including case studies of individual universities. Check out http://www.aashe.org
August 25, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Nia, esq.
As a Spelman alum (c/o ‘04), I am so proud of Spelman for making this step in the 21st Century. Now, I just wish we had a suites while I was there. And I really love this site. Keepp yp the good work.
August 26, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Carter
Just wanted to share some news that I saw this morning about your university:
Spelman Gets $17 million Gift from anonymous benefactor
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/08/25/daily28.html
Prairie View Alum (c/o ‘04)
August 28, 2008 at 10:13 am
TheJennTaFur
Wow! I am speechless! I wonder though if the other residence halls will be renovated to be green?!
I haven’t been down to Spelman (c/o’96 here) since 2006 and I remember seeing a lot of construction work but not to sure what was going on. When I graduated, the Cosby Center had been constructed and was opened to the public in 1996 so I am really observing so much change for the 21st century.
Go, Spelman! Thank you for keeping us informed!
September 10, 2008 at 2:35 am
tome
from Spelman College – Off The Record. I don’t think they are really strict. They don’t check your rooms like they say. I think people can get away with it. …
December 6, 2008 at 12:42 pm