Installation of 'green roof' begins at WWU's Miller Hall

Workers are installing a "green roof" as one of many innovative sustainable features for the major renovation of Miller Hall at Western Washington University.

The green roof, the first at Western’s campus, is being installed over a small roof covering the new Student Collaboration Space – where students can meet and study – being built in the existing courtyard of Miller Hall. The green roof consists of a mat system of sedum plants, a flowering plant that requires little maintenance.

The advantages of green roofs include savings on heating and cooling costs; better sound insulation; reduction in stormwater runoff and extra protection resulting in a longer roof lifespan.

The $51.5-million Miller Hall project, funded by the Washington State Legislature, will renovate the entire 134,000 square-foot building, located on the university's Red Square, and will provide general university classrooms, computer labs, instructional space, offices and support facilities for Woodring College of Education and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. All building systems (including electrical, mechanical, data, heating and air conditioning), elevators, roofing, windows and exterior elements for the aged building are being replaced. Miller Hall, originally WWU's Campus School, was built in 1943 and enlarged in 1968. No major renovation work has been done since. The project is anticipated to conclude next summer.

The green roof is just part of the project's strong green focus, incorporating a number of sustainable features. Windows will be operable, mechanical systems will use radiant cooling, and highly efficient lighting will be combined with increased daylighting. "Deconstruction" takes advantage of the salvage value of materials and recycles site and building waste to prevent useable materials from going into landfills. Where possible, the project team is using recycled and recyclable products as well as products purchased locally, such as certified wood products from the Pacific Northwest.

The project is designed to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of silver or higher. LEED certification is a green-building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The first phase began in the summer of 2009 and was completed at the end of summer 2010. During Phase I, occupants from the 1960s wing were moved into the 1940s wing and other temporary spaces around campus while the 1960s wing was completely renovated. They have now returned to the 1960s wing while Phase II proceeds with the renovation of the 1940s wing, which includes the portion of the building that housed the former Campus School.

The Miller Hall project is providing a sizeable boost to the local economy with more than 100 construction workers involved during the project. Additional employment has been created by the project among suppliers of equipment and materials.

Enviroscapes Northwest, Inc. is installing the green roof. Dawson Construction of Bellingham is the general contractor and project construction manager. The project team also includes Mahlum Architects (civil and structural engineering), Coughlin Porter Lundeen (civil and structural engineering), CDI Engineers (mechanical), Sparling (electrical) and Berger Partnership (landscape architects).

Reuse of materials nothing new at Miller Hall

During renovation of Miller Hall's 1940s wing, workers found a large old duct used for the passage of air. What caused some head-scratching, however, was that the duct was held in place by scavenged old steel railroad rails. Why were those used for support? The answer finally dawned on Tim Wynn, Facilities Management director. Construction of that old wing commenced during World War II, when many materials, including steel, were rationed. So, in the midst of a world war, those creative builders of Miller Hall scavenged old railroad rails, continuing a tradition of reuse and sustainability at the venerable building that continues today.