About Langdon Woods…

Langdon Woods, PSU’s newest residential hall, was completed in September of 2006. This state-of-the-art residence hall houses 347 students in a five story, 114,000 square foot building. The facility consists of a combination of hotel style single and double bedrooms as well as four-bedroom suites, each comprised of four single bedrooms and a common area living space. The first floor provides a new food venue called The Woods Café, as well as a laundry area, indoor bicycle storage room, an exercise room, kitchen, housing office, and a large meeting room.

Designed by Cannon Design of Boston, Langdon Woods is the state's first residence hall - and one of the nation's largest - to earn GOLD certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, a national standard for developing high performance, sustainable, and energy efficient buildings.

The design elements and green technologies used in the construction of the Langdon Woods Complex demonstrate PSU’s commitment to sustainability and the environment. Some of these elements include:

• Almost 60% Energy Use Reduction: A high performance design is enhanced by an innovative use of the excess waste heat from an adjacent cogeneration plant as the primary heating source for the building.

• 30% Water Use Reduction: Water efficient appliances, low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, and waterless urinals all act to significantly reduce water use throughout the building.

• Sustainable Materials: 20% of the materials used in construction were manufactured locally thereby supporting the local economy and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation and shipping.

• Healthy Environmental Air Quality: Carpeting, adhesives, sealants, and paints were chosen for their very low or no VOC emissions. The building is also smoke free.

• Construction Waste Recycling: 75% of the building site waste was salvaged or recycled through a waste management program.

• Reduced Heat Island on Site: Energy Star® roofing saves energy by reflecting heat away from the building and lowers the summer cooling demand.

• 10% Recycled/Renewable Materials: 10% of the materials used in the building contain post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content.

• 50% Certified Wood: Over half of all the wood used in the building comes from a certified fast growth forest to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.

• Glass Technology: Low-E insulated windows and louvered glass walls reflect heat away in the summer months while reflecting radiant heat indoors in the winter.

• Storm Water Management: An underground retention system collects runoff from parking lots and roads and recharges it, minimizing the load on the town’s storm drains.

• Indoor Secure Bicycle Storage: A locked bicycle storage room encourages LW residents to bring their bicycles and use them, thus reducing auto emissions, freeing shuttle seats, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

• Sustainable Site Strategies: Langdon Woods’ landscaping makes attractive use of the existing natural shade of adjacent Langdon Park to minimize water and energy use for cooling the building in the summer months. Zero-cut-off lighting in the parking lots and along pedestrian pathways eliminates the spillover of light into areas where it is not needed and preserves night sky visibility.

• Educational Displays: Signs and labels at the entrance to the building educate residents and visitors alike about Langdon Woods’ unique environmentally responsible features.