Will Vill North receives Platinum Award

WILL VILL NORTH FIRST DORM TO RECEIVE PLATINUM AWARD

Solar panels, LED lights and special water filters are what sets this new dorm apart from any other on campus. Will Vill north is the only building at CU and the largest residence hall in the nation to receive the highest level sustainability award from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

The dorm was finished in August- just in time for the beginning of the semester. It houses 500 freshman students, plus some faculty and upperclassmen. Will Vill North has numerous energy saving components like windows designed to heat rooms, energy-efficient water filtration systems, light switches that turn off all outlets in a room, a sustainable kitchen with efficient stove hoods, and much more.

Experts at CU estimate that the dorm will use 39% less energy than any other building on campus. Heidi Roge, project manager, says that this will equate to $200,000 in utility savings for the campus per year.

Another unique component to Will Vill North is its two Residential Academic Programs (RAP's) designed to teach students about sustainability. Associate Director of Residence Life John Fox says that these programs draw students from all majors, including engineering, environmental design, architecture and more.

Will Vill North and its LEED Platinum level certification is inspiring building project managers on campus to renovate some of the dorms like Kitteredge, Libby, and Baker.

Plans are in place to replace Kitt West with a new residence hall that will be called Kitt Commons This new building will incorporate many of the same energy saving components that Will Vill North premiered.

Not only will the dorm save the campus thousands of dollars in utility bills, but it will also be a great way for the campus to maintain its “green” reputation.