Green Insight’s mission on any project is simple: Use our expertise in green and sustainable building to work with developers on a project that doesn’t have to sacrifice style for substance, while keeping the bottom line clearly in focus..
Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus had just the project for us: A student housing facility that features dorms, common rooms, and state-of-the-art offices with a focus on energy efficiency. With this project, Green Insight was integral in helping developers achieve a LEED for Homes V4 Midrise Platinum Rating, the highest rating given by the U.S. Green Building Council, and higher than the project’s initial target of Silver.
Project Details
Lantana Hall, located on Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus, was a dormitory project consisting of 120 residential units, space for classrooms, offices, communal kitchens, and common rooms. Most units contained 4 bedrooms and 2 baths while some contained 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms or 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom.
Green Insight was hired by the developer to manage the LEED for Homes certification process, which included LEED for Homes Provider services and LEED for Homes Green Rater and HERS Rating testing and verification.
Project Challenges
One of the biggest challenges to the project as a whole (which caused other challenges along the way) was its remote location of Mesa, AZ. Working from our Albuquerque, NM headquarters, we were engaged by the project’s developers after the project was already well underway. Therefore, time also became a challenge to ensure successfully meeting all green building standards required and specific standards desired.
Partners in the Lantana Hall project included Capstone Development Partners, CORE Construction, and Shepley Bulfinch Architecture.
Project Solutions
Because we were engaged late in the design process, we began with a comprehensive plan review to verify the building plans complied with the LEED checklist requirements. Some adjustments were made which proved invaluable to the relatively smooth process going forward.
Green Insight took full advantage of having the luxury of working in the 21st century. With modern technology, it is no longer absolutely vital for us to be physically present to conduct every inspection and work with project developers. Using remote video technology, our Green raters were able to hold extra inspections prior to onsite visits to ensure that the time spent on site was utilized efficiently. This cut back on cost greatly as travel back and forth wasn’t necessary for each inspection.
Clear communication from the beginning was vital for all stakeholders, but especially for us coming in late to the game. Communication between us, the builder, and the architect was key to this project’s success.
The Finished Product
The end of this project was successful on many fronts. First, we met and exceeded all goals for the developer including meeting the standards required for LEED for Homes Platinum rating.
In addition to this certification, Lantana Hall was also awarded the 2021 Student Housing Business Innovator Award for Best Use of Green & Sustainable Construction/Design. This award honors excellence in student housing properties. Lantana Hall was recognized out of 140 project submissions. Projects were judged on a wide range of criteria including:
- How the use of green and sustainable construction and development aligned with the university’s forward-thinking mission.
- How the use of green and sustainable construction and development will assist in achieving short and long term cost savings.
- The project achieving a specific LEED rating
- The number and scope of green and sustainable construction and development that are featured in the project as a whole.
If you’re ready to see how Green Insight can find the perfect solution for your sustainable living project, contact us today.
You will reach one of our team members who will be happy to discuss your project and your goals while showing you how Green Insight can help you with both.
