Carleton takes pride in our status as a small liberal arts college. Knowing that we won’t continually add buildings to our campus footprint, we instead maintain and update our buildings regularly and with great care.
While all our construction projects are upheld with the college’s Construction Design Standards, below is a list of the most recent certified building projects.
Green Building Projects
Science Complex
The Science Complex, made of Hulings, Olin, and the newly constructed Anderson hall, was renovated and constructed with two major goals in mind: A “Science on Display” design and sustainable building best practices through the LEED Rating System by the US Green Building Council.
The building utilized the LEED Rating System with the following sustainable practices:
- Bicycle storage and changing rooms
- Light pollution reduction-Dark Skies compliant fixtures
- Water efficiency and water efficient landscaping
- Optimized energy performance (see UMP Project site)
- On-site and purchased renewable energy
- Enhanced mechanical / electrical systems commissioning
- Construction waste management, 75% or more recycled
- Recycled and regional materials
- Indoor air quality management (low-emitting materials, chemical and pollutant source control, etc.)
- Thermal and lighting comfort and controllability
- Educational graphics and tours
Click here to see fun facts and graphics about the LEED aspects of the building. There is also an in-person display in the connection between Anderson and Olin halls.
James & Cassat Residence Halls
Both Cassat Hall and James (formerly Memorial) Hall are Gold Certified through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The LEED system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
Weitz Center for Creativity
Another LEED construction project, plans for the Weitz Center for Creativity called for the renovation and re-use of the original 1910 building in its entirety, preserving much of its history and unique architectural features. The College took great care in selecting an architect with special expertise in adapting old buildings to new purposes.
Utility Master Plan
The last time Carleton College made a major shift in its campus utilities was over 100 years ago with construction of the central plant in 1910. Before that, each individual building was heated by a coal furnace or fireplaces. Now the college is embarking on its utility plan for the next 100 years.
Our two wind turbines (installed in 2004 and 2011) have been a big help to our sustainability efforts, but we need to do more to reduce carbon emissions. Our Utility Master Plan furthers the concepts outlined in our 2011 Climate Action Plan which is the guiding document supporting our goal of making Carleton’s campus carbon free by the year 2050. Our new utility system will utilize four forms of renewable energy – wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and geothermal – and is flexible enough to take advantage of future advancements in renewable energy technologies.
Carleton’s total emissions have been reduced by 58% as of 2022.