USM

September 1st, 2010 by Josh

Last night I started my first of four classes at USM’s Muskie School of Public Service towards a Graduate Certificate in Community Planning and Development. Tomorrow night is my second class.

Both take place in the not even two-year-old Wishcamper Center on the corner of Forest Avenue and Bedford Street. Fantastic building, maybe my new photographic muse for the autumn.

Here are a few fun stats on it:

  • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, meeting nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

  • The building is heated and cooled by geo-thermal energy from wells drilled 1,500 ft. into the earth.

  • Rain water is being collected off the roof and recycled.

  • All materials are low emission, containing a high percentage of recycled material and where possible brought in from local sources.

  • The majority of all the wood products are from Forest Stewardship Council certified forests, which use environmentally responsible forest management techniques.

  • Similarly, the current paved property around the building is being restored to living, permeable landscape.

  • A minimum of 75% of construction waste is being recycled.

  • The second floor forum roof is covered in vegetation to absorb and filter water, and the fourth floor roof is covered in highly reflective energy star rated roofing membrane to conserve on energy use.

    • Some of these I take umbrage with, but we’ll get into that at a later date.

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