Syringa Hall is leading the way for sustainability on campus as the university’s first building to receive a Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
The certification recognizes sustainability features incorporated into the residence hall’s construction and operation.
LEED projects earn points for sustainable practices involving construction, materials, water use, energy efficiency and other environmental considerations. A LEED Silver certification requires 50-59 points out of 110 points, and Syringa sits at 53 points.
“It started in the design phase, carried all the way through construction, then the building itself meets the standard,” said Anthony Henry, associate director of housing facilities.
Contractors incorporated LEED requirements early in the project, including sorting, documenting and minimizing waste throughout the construction process, according to Campus Architect Geoffrey Parks. Crews recycled 824 tons of waste during construction.
Many of Syringa Hall’s sustainability features also shape how students live in the building, from energy use to air quality and water consumption.
In an effort to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions created by vehicle traffic, the residence hall includes ample bike parking, making it easier for residents to store and access their bikes.
Specific air conditioning units were chosen to minimize energy consumption, allowing faculty to manage and monitor the entire building from an iPad. They manage the temperature holistically throughout the building. 14 out of 53 points in the LEED certification process were dedicated to a sustainable air conditioning system.
“The residents don’t have much control over their individual rooms – but with that comes increased insulation on the walls, better windows [and] better insulation on the roof,” Henry said.
Syringa Hall uses sustainable products to make a healthier living space by improving air quality for students. Certain household items like mattresses, flooring and paint can release chemicals into the air through a process known as off-gassing, so the university’s Sustainability Department opted for gas less products.
“By choosing products that off-gas less, students are healthier,” Amy Parrish, sustainability director, said.
The building is fit with low-flow fixtures, using less water indoors.
“A lot of what was a success for Syringa had to do with utilities, like making sure that we’re picking the right faucets for the bathrooms to make sure that we’re not wasting water,” Parks said.
Landscaping around Syringa was also designed to limit water use while preserving outdoor gathering spaces.
“[Grass lawns] are beautiful, but they’re also water hogs – they’re also great social interaction spaces,” Parks said. “So one of the strategies at Syringa was being very mindful of where we do put that green lawn for those student interactions outside.”
The building’s exterior also includes systems that collect stormwater from the roof so it can be filtered before reaching the nearby Boise River.
“All the rainwater comes down in pipes and goes into those open concrete-walled zones. In the bottom of that, there is gravel and layers of material that allow that water to purify and infiltrate back into the ground.”
This allows rainwater to recharge the groundwater and aquifers instead of carrying pollutants such as oils and microplastics into the Boise River.
Syringa Hall’s location near the Greenbelt contributes to its sustainability goals by providing students easier access to walking and biking routes around campus and Boise.
“Something that was a priority for us was building a community in a strategic location […] it’s located next to the Albertsons Library, the Student Union Building, the greenbelt, class locations and some of our athletic facilities,” said Ryan Vilfer, associate director of residence life.
Because of the costs that are associated with a LEED certification, it’s possible that future buildings will not pursue the certification.
“We continue to try to build really high quality, good buildings – we may not always pursue the LEED certification for [future] buildings though,” Parrish said, “It does cost extra money to do the LEED certification and sometimes we choose to spend our money on making the building better versus getting the certification.”
Despite this, Parks says that most buildings on campus are built with sustainability in mind.
“Many, if not most, if not all of our projects could be LEED certified, [but] there is a lot of effort and expenses to make that happen,” Parks said.
Vilfer and Henry hope Syringa Hall will provide a cozy and sustainable home to students experiencing their first year on campus.
“It really is a privilege for Boise State to call [Syringa Hall] home,” Vilfer said. “It’s about protecting this area for student generations to come – they get to experience the greenbelt, our campus and fall along the river just like we do.”
