Kalamazoo College's natatorium nationally recognized for environmental design
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo College's 29,600-square-foot Natatorium was the recipient of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification by the U.S. Green Building Council Friday, according to Kalamazoo College and TowerPinkster.
LEED is the most used green-building rating system in the world, and certification is a "globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership," according to Kalamazoo College.
“The award of LEED certification punctuates the roll-out of the College’s updated Climate Action Plan, which leans heavily on energy reduction to meet its greenhouse-gas emission goals, as well as creating a healthier campus,” Kalamazoo College Associate Vice-President of Facilities Management and Chief Sustainability Officer Susan Lindemann said. “This is a significant achievement toward that plan.”
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Kalamazoo College's Natatorium opened in 2021, officials said.
While it was being designed and constructed, collaborators considered materials, efficient design, and the overall health of the facility's users in their sustainable practices, according to Kalamazoo College.
The building features eight competition lanes, a separate diving area with 1-meter and 3-meter boards, on-deck seating for athletes, a dryland training room, an office suite for coaches and meet management, a high-quality timing system and scoreboard, varsity team locker rooms for swimmers and divers, and a display space of awards in the lobby, officials said.
Elements that led to the Natatorium's LEED certification include the following:
- A light-toned roof that helps prevent heat from being reflected into the atmosphere.
- Efficient rainwater and stormwater management that ensures runoff from storms up to a 98th percentile event will be retained onsite.
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures installed to reduce the water used in toilets, showers and sinks.
- Native-plant landscaping that eliminates the need for irrigation.
- Heat systems that recover energy for the pool air and water.
- Dedicated outdoor air systems that provide fresh air and efficient heat for spectator areas and locker rooms.
- A chloramine evacuator system that uses vents to reduce air contaminants where swimmers breathe while preventing a chloramine build up in the building.
- Bicycle infrastructure with indoor and outdoor parking spaces.
- Additional energy and water meters to monitor the use of resources.
- Construction practices that allowed 52 percent of the construction waste to be diverted from landfills.
"The new natatorium is truly one-of-a-kind. Its design emphasizes the idea that buildings which traditionally have a very heavy energy use can be designed efficiently while still prioritizing the needs and health of student athletes," said Perry Hausman, manager of mechanical engineering at TowerPinkster.
More information about Kalamazoo College can be found online.