DownloadJune 22, 2009 issue
AMBS library cited for meeting green standards
United States Green Building Council gives building gold certification
By Mary E. Klassen Associated Mennonite Biblical SeminaryELKHART, Ind. — Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary on June 4 celebrated the gold certification its library received from the United States Green Building Council.
Eileen Saner, AMBS librarian, displays a seal indicating the library’s gold certification. — Photo by Mary E. Klassen/Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
The certification marks the level to which AMBS met standards set by the council in its LEED program, which stands for Leadership in Environment and Energy Design.
LEED is a rating system that sets nationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.
Of the 69 points possible in the rating system, AMBS received 47, qualifying the building for the gold certification.
The celebration was an opportunity for the seminary community to mark the final facet of the project, which began with planning in 2004.
Construction was completed in 2007.
Nelson Kraybill, AMBS president, and Eileen Saner, AMBS librarian, unveiled a seal indicating the gold certification, which is mounted next to the service desk in the library.
Honored in the event were librarian Eileen Saner, who had the initial vision to make the building a green building; The Troyer Group of Mishawaka, the architectural firm; and DJ Construction of Goshen, the general contractor.
Other key participants in the project were Primera Engineers of Chicago, and Marcus Sheffer of 7group, who led the green building design process.
The building comprises about 25,000 square feet, including the library, bookstore, gallery and restrooms.
Green features include a geothermal ground-source heating and cooling system, triple-pane windows, efficient insulation, use of natural light and photocells that control lighting according to how much natural light is available.
Materials from the region were used in the construction process as much as possible to reduce the need for transporting them, and 92 percent of building waste was recycled.
Rain gardens and prairie grasses around the building help restore rain water to the underground aquifer and reduce the need for mowing parts of the 40-acre campus.
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