CoE Home | prosperity | building |

Kelley Engineering Center A 'Green' Leader

By Gregg Kleiner, 541-737-9684

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The new four-story, 153,000-square-foot Kelley Engineering Center at Oregon State University, which is designed to be extremely energy efficient and constructed using sustainable materials and techniques, is on track to gain a "Gold" LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

This certification will make the building the "greenest" academic engineering building in the U.S., as well as the first Gold LEED certified new university building on the West Coast. Some features include:


  • Windows that work – Building occupants can regulate the temperature of office spaces by opening or closing windows, making fresh air always an option. The building responds to an open window by turning off the heat to that room.
  • Catch the light – The central atrium and windowed walls supply virtually all classrooms, labs, and offices with natural light, cutting lighting costs up to 40 percent.
  • Breathe easy – Paints, finishes, flooring and wall surfaces were selected to minimize off-gassing, improving the air quality and supporting non-toxic manufacturing processes.
  • Save the heat – An extensive heat recovery system pulls more waste heat from the ventilation system than standard equipment, and pays for itself in less than four years. 
  • Keep it cool – A highly reflective white roof reduces rooftop heat absorption.
  • Planters that work – Not only do the planters contain native plant species and make a great place to sit outdoors, but they also act as bio-filters, removing unwanted contaminants.
  • Save the rain – Rainwater is collected in a 16,500-gallon system and stored to provide water to flush toilets and irrigate the landscape, reducing water usage by more than 60 percent.
  • Fewer cars and CO2 – Indoor bicycle parking and showers, covered outdoor bicycle racks, and easy access to Corvallis and university bus routes encourage the use of alternate transportation.
  • Soaking in – Permeable sidewalks and plazas constructed of pavers mimic natural drainage and minimize storm runoff compared to conventional concrete.
  • Save energy – Because of energy efficiency systems employed throughout, the building uses about 60 percent of the energy in a similar conventional building.
  • Friendly concrete – A waste product replaced a portion of the cement in the concrete resulting in reduced carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. 
  • Solar sizzle – Solar panels on the roof produce 2400 watts that heat water for sinks and showers, and a roof-top solar collector assists with water heating.
  • Save the trash – The contractor recycled more than 90 percent of the construction waste, diverting it from landfills.