By Tina Hilding, Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture
PULLMAN, Wash. – Building tours, a reception and music from the WSU Cougar Marching Band were part of the dedication of the new PACCAR Environmental Technology Building at Washington State University on Thursday, May 5. WSU Regents, industry supporters, students, faculty and staff attended.
“WSU’s leadership in clean technology has helped drive innovations in building and environmental practices that are reducing the region’s dependence on foreign oil, minimizing carbon footprints and improving air and water quality,” said WSU Interim President Dan Bernardo. “Our new PACCAR building is the next step in that leadership.”
Designed and built by LMN Architects and Skanska, the 96,000-square-foot facility is one of WSU’s greenest buildings on its Pullman campus. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program awarded the building its second-highest level of certification – gold – for sustainable and energy-efficient design.
The building, which is named in recognition of PACCAR’s major donation, is constructed using renewable materials and technologies developed at WSU, including wood composites, recycled concrete and pervious pavement. It incorporates features such as water capture and re-use, heat recovery, individual control of air quality factors, maximized daylighting and optimal siting, making it a technological showcase for minimizing the carbon footprint of the built environment.
“We are pleased to provide one of the important building blocks to Washington State University in the development of its interdisciplinary environmental technology initiative that will benefit students and the region for many years,’’ said Mark Pigott, executive chairman of PACCAR Inc. “PACCAR has recruited excellent employees from WSU for many decades and this investment will provide another strong link in our robust relationship.”
The building houses five of WSU’s longstanding research centers dedicated to tackling multifaceted environmental issues through interdisciplinary collaboration. Focus areas include sustainable design and construction, water quality and atmospheric sciences.
“The PACCAR building is a comfortable, high-quality community in which WSU students, faculty and environmental and technology leaders can collaborate on next-generation breakthroughs for a thriving 21st century economy,’’ said Candis Claiborn, dean of the WSU Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. “I look forward to seeing the groundbreaking discoveries that will come out of this building and its research centers.”
Contact:
Tina Hilding, communications coordinator, WSU Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, 509-335-5095, thilding@wsu.edu
