November 1, 2017

Bellingham Tech center gets certified LEED gold

Photos by Matt Brown [enlarge]

[enlarge]

Bellingham Technical College's Campus Center earned LEED gold certification, according to HKP Architects, which designed the project.

The three-story, 72,885 square-foot building opened in 2012 at 3028 Lindbergh Ave.

HKP said it serves students, faculty and community members, with formal and informal learning areas.

The first floor has an auditorium, bookstore, teaching kitchens and a restaurant. The second floor has classrooms, faculty offices, conference rooms and student study areas. The third level contains an expanded library and student activity center.

HKP said it was designed with energy conservation as a priority. Almost all of the construction waste was diverted from landfills; energy features reduce operating costs by 31 percent; and building materials have 22 percent recycled content and are 25 percent locally/regionally sourced.

A large light well and roof monitors bring natural light into the building. Green roofs and rain gardens help reduce stormwater runoff, and solar panels on the roof generate electricity.

HKP said the state paid most of the $19.5 million project cost, although BTC students and the bookstore concessionaire contributed some funding.

The team also included AHBL, structural; Notkin Mechanical Engineers, mechanical; Travis, Fitzmaurice & Associates, electrical; Wilson Engineering, civil; Merit Engineering, geotechnical; SvR Design Co., landscape architect; SSA Acoustics, acoustical; AVC Consulting, audio/visual; The Wool-Zee Co., cost estimator; Adams Consulting and Estimating, hardware; Dick Hein, specifications; Transportation Engineering Northwest, traffic; Bundy & Associates, kitchen; McKinstry, commissioning; BrandQuery, graphics; and Heidi Epstein Interiors, interior designer and FF&E package lead.