Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies
Encyclopedia
The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, located on the campus of Oberlin College
, is one of the most advanced examples of Green building in the United States
. Construction crews completed work on the building in January 2000. The following semester, classes in conservation biology
, environment and society, sustainable agriculture
, ecological design
, environmental education
, physical geology, and solar energy were held in the center. It would have qualified as a LEED
Platinum building had it not been built before the LEED system was established. John T. Lyle
who was the lead designer for the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
was also the landscape architect for the project, the main plaza is named in his honor. The project's lead architect was William McDonough
, a building architect.
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, is one of the most advanced examples of Green building in the United States
Green building in the United States
This article provides examples of Green Building programs in the United States. These programs span the public, private, and non-profit sectors, and all have the goal of increasing energy efficiency and the sustainability of the built environment....
. Construction crews completed work on the building in January 2000. The following semester, classes in conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, environment and society, sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
, ecological design
Ecological design
Ecological design was defined by Sim Van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan as "any form of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with living processes." Ecological design is an integrative, ecologically responsible design discipline...
, environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
, physical geology, and solar energy were held in the center. It would have qualified as a LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
Platinum building had it not been built before the LEED system was established. John T. Lyle
John T. Lyle
John T. Lyle was a professor of landscape architecture at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ; the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona and the Lyle plaza at the entrance to Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College are named after...
who was the lead designer for the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, informally called LCRS, is a research facility at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in Pomona, California, United States. Based on regenerative principles of sustainable design and sustainable agriculture the center offers both a...
was also the landscape architect for the project, the main plaza is named in his honor. The project's lead architect was William McDonough
William McDonough
William Andrews McDonough is an American architect, founding principal of , co-founder of with German chemist Michael Braungart as well as co-author of also with Braungart...
, a building architect.
Awards
The building has received many awards, including:- One of the 30 Milestone Buildings of the 20th Century, U.S. Department of Energy, William McDonough & Partners
- One of the Top 10 Green Projects (2002), American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Build America Award (2001), National Convention of the Associated Contractors of America, Mosser Construction
- Build Ohio Award (2000), Associated Contractors of Ohio, Mosser Construction
- Honor Award (1999), AIA Committee on Architecture and Education, William McDonough & Partners
- American Architecture Award (1999), Chicago Anthaeum, William McDonough & Partners