College of the Atlantic > About COA > Sustainability at COA > Sustainable Campus > Buildings and Grounds

PROJECT:           Three separate residence buildings,
                               each with two wings and a community space
BEDS:                   51, raising total on-campus housing to 150,
                               housing about one-half the student body
ARCHITECTS:     Bruce Coldham and Tom Hartman of Amherst, MA
                               www.coldhamandhartman.com
PROJECT COST: $6.4 million

ENERGY CONSERVATION:
HEAT:              Wood pellet boiler as primary heating source, renewable and local
                        Ground-floor: radiant in-floor heating
                        Upper-floors: hydronic forced air heating
                        Heat recovery by central ventilation unit to preheat incoming fresh air
                        Grey water from showers used to preheat incoming water
WATER:           Waterless composting toilets by Phoenix Composting Toilets
                         (via Ben Goldberg '90)
                         Low-flow fixtures on 1st floor where composting toilets aren't feasible
WALLS:           Double-stud walls create frequent thermal breaks to reduce heat loss
INSULATION: 12" of non-emitting, recycled cellulose (shredded newspapers)
                            installed by Evergreen Home Performance LLC
                            (www.evergreenhp.com)
LIGHTING:       Oriented for maximum sunlight, reducing need for electric lighting
                         LED or light-emitting diodes where feasible
                         All classic fixtures fitted with compact fluorescent bulbs
                         Motion sensors in stairwells, landings and closets
                           to turn lights on when needed, off when not
                         Elsewhere, no need for sensors, since COA students turn lights off!
APPLIANCES:   Energy-efficient
ELECTRIC:        From renewable hydropower throughout campus

INTERIOR HEALTH AND FIXTURES
AIR:                  Energy recovery ventilation systems to ensure fresh air
MATERIALS:    Local and sustainably harvested when possible,
                           promoting local economy, reducing transport emissions
                         No off-gassing of any materials
FLOORS:         Stained sealed concrete with fly-ash, recycling a cement by-product,
                            retaining heat during the day, releasing it at night
                          All other flooring of FSC-certified, prefinished Maine-grown birch
PAINT:               Low- or no-volatile organic compounds
FURNITURE:     Regional, sustainably harvested, durable wood (Savoy Furniture)
                          Stuffed furnishings chosen for recycled/eco-friendly fabrics
                          No solvents needed for cleaning furniture
WASTE:           Recycling containers for returnables, bottles, paper in each wing
                          Composting receptacles in each kitchen

EDUCATION:     Meter readouts to show display energy consumption of buildings
                           Built to maximize student discourse-and fun-in common areas
                           Student input significantly altered the design to maximize community

"I am deeply honored to have this excellent building named for me. To have such an environmentally advanced building be part of an academic institution means that each of the green advances will be amplified by COA's students - those who live within the village and those who share meals and friendships with their occupants."

~ Kathryn W. Davis, 2006
upon hearing that COA's student residence village would be named for her