University of Massachusetts Lowell
OP-4: Building Design and Construction

UMass Lowell uses U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. UMass Lowell's Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center (ETIC) is Gold certified. University Suites, University Crossing and the Health & Social Sciences Building are in the process of being certified.

Per Executive Order 484, new construction and major renovation projects over 20,000 SF managed by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) must meet Mass. “LEED Plus” building standards including: 1) U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, 2) energy performance exceeding MA Energy Code by at least 20%, and 3) independent 3rd party commissioning. New construction and major renovation projects less than 20,000 SF shall meet at least one of the following: 1) adhere to MA LEED Plus, 2) surpass the MA Energy Code requirements by at least 20% or 3) follow prescriptive approach of New Building Institute’s Advanced Buildings Benchmark Tool. Additionally, UMass Lowell has Sustainability Initiatives and Green Design Guidelines which are attached. UMass Lowell's Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center (ETIC) is Gold certified (86,288 SF). A total of 591,662 SF of space was reported as designed and built according to sustainable design and construction guidelines including: Leitch & Bourgeois, Fox Hall, the Health & Social Sciences Building, University Crossing and University Suites. Leitch & Bourgeois (124,928 SF) were designed to meet LEED silver but will not be formally certified.  Fox Hall (17,000 SF) was also constructed with LEED design features but is not certified. University Suites (148,000 SF), University Crossing (229,000 SF) and the Health & Social Sciences Building (72,734 SF) are in the process of obtaining LEED certification (counted as designed in accordance with guidelines because not yet certified).

UMass Lowell works with its architects and contractors to conduct design and construction projects in accordance with the University’s green building guidelines to the extent possible.

The score for this credit is calculated based on the percentage of "total floor area of eligible building space" designed and built in accordance with formal sustainable design guidelines and/or LEED certified. Eligible building space is defined as the total floor area of all building space eligible for certification under a green building rating system. To be eligible for certification the space must meet "minimum program requirements" for new construction & major renovations, commercial interiors or core and shell. UMass Lowell has constructed/renovated over 2 million square feet (SF) of space in the past five years. Approximately 1.6 million of the 2 million SF constructed/renovated were related to large projects (including construction of two new garages). The remaining constructed/ renovated area is comprised of many smaller projects. Due to the number of small projects, it was not feasible to review each individual project to determine whether the space met the "minimum program requirements." For the purposes of STARS reporting, the total square feet constructed/renovated was therefore conservatively assumed to be "eligible" space. By assuming all of the space was eligible the resulting STARS score for this credit may be underestimated. Leitch & Bourgeois were designed to meet LEED silver but will not be formally certified. Fox Hall was also constructed with LEED design features but is not certified. University Suites, University Crossing and the Health and Social Sciences building (HSSB) are going through the process to be LEED certified but are not yet certified. Notes: • Bourgeois (62,313 SF) includes 77% certified wood by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), low VOC paints, energy efficient lighting w/ occupancy sensors, low flow fixtures, high performance glazing and building envelope, condensing boilers, heat recovery and valance units. • Leitch (62,313 SF) utilizes FCS wood, low VOC paints, energy efficient lighting w/occupancy sensors, reuse of existing buildings, low flow fixtures, new flooring with high recycled content. • Fox Dining Hall (17,000 SF) utilizes low flow toilets and faucets, LED lighting, high efficiency kitchen equipment, low VOC materials, FSC certified wood table tops, recycled content in carpet, sustainable casework, a pulper to convert food/paper waste to compost. The following lists information about certified buildings and green building design construction features for various UMass Lowell buildings • Sustainability Initiatives: http://www.uml.edu/docs/LeadByExample-February132013-EnergyandSustainabilityInitiatives_tcm18-149026.pdf • Manning Business School: http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2014/BusinessBldg051614.aspx • ETIC: http://www.uml.edu/News/stories/2011-12/ETICupdate.aspx • University Suites: http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2013/UniversitySuites091813.aspx • University Crossing: http://www.uml.edu/News/news-articles/2014/sun-uxing-opens.aspx • HSSB: http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2013/HSSB-Opening.aspx