Plymouth State University

PLYMOUTH, N.H.-
Plymouth State University’s newest residential life building has garnered another prestigious award. Langdon Woods has earned the Judges’ Choice recipient in the ‘Building as a Teaching Tool’ category in College Planning and Management’s ‘2008 Green Education Design Showcase.’ The award is published in the November 2008 editions of both College Planning and Management and School Planning and Management. The judges noted that because of Langdon Woods environmental sustainability features, it is more than a campus building.

“More than merely a home for students, Langdon Woods has become a learning lab for the campus and a symbol of efficiency and sustainability,” said the judging panel.

William Crangle, PSU’s Special Assistant to the President for Environmental Sustainability and a driving force behind Langdon Woods, said PSU’s collaborative planning process worked well.

“This proves again that if you have a good process, you will likely have a great result,” said Crangle. “We involved student, faculty and staff; we had three classes participate in the process of planning and design. The awards we have received are really a recognition of their efforts and involvement.”

Langdon Woods was the first building in New Hampshire to achieve a gold-level certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership-Energy-Environmental Design (LEEDS) program. Interiors and Sources magazine also named Langdon Woods one of the nation’s top ten LEED certified projects, and was also selected for a Gold Medal Building of America Award as one of the most significant sustainable projects in New England.

Langdon Woods is a $29 million dollar project featuring a layout that follows the contour of the land on-site, preserving wetlands and other water elements while allowing maximum sunlight exposure for energy conservation. The brick, wood and glass building was outfitted with energy and water conserving fixtures and systems, including some waterless urinals. Heat is provided through a co-generation plant housed next door. The 347-bed, five-story high building was paid for entirely by student fees.

As for the living quarters, Langdon Woods offers suite-style living options as well as hotel-type single and double bedrooms, a 1,000 square-foot aerobic exercise area, a coffee shop, a common area with wireless internet access, smaller areas for students to congregate, bathrooms with more privacy, a laundry room, secure bicycle storage and a meeting/conference room. Additionally, the carpets throughout the building are recyclable and the University outfitted the rooms with furniture manufactured locally in Lisbon, N.H.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or Bruce Lyndes