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In the March/April 2008 issue of The Iowan Structure
Story by Deborah Jansen Why save a boxy 1970s masonry building with modest rows of windows? Vermeer Science Center (VSC) on Central College’s campus in Pella was not a landmark building embodied with century-old memories or quaint architecture. The math and science departments simply needed more laboratory space, more classrooms, and updated technology. New construction could have fulfilled square footage and modernization requirements. But as Central entered the 21st century, the climate was right for recycling its first building. The college curriculum expanded in the 1990s to include two new areas of study — environmental science and environmental policies, expanding a liberal arts education to include a focus on environmental responsibility. By the end of the decade, soaring energy prices and growing global awareness prompted the college president to appoint a task force on environmental stewardship. The group’s first major recommendation was to go green. The pitch to make VSC a sustainable building was an easy sell. In crafting a strategy to expand and update the building, the college looked beyond cents to uncover ideas that made long-term sense. The loss of original materials with demolition was weighed against the cost of recycling and reusing structural elements. The latter approach came with a valuable bonus — an opportunity to create a living laboratory for students, faculty, and staff. Committed to VSC’s transformation, Director of Facilities Planning and Management Mike Lubberden explored green building principles and possibilities. “Ray Anderson, a leader in private industry, says it’s important to climb Mount Sustainability. He’s my inspiration,” says Lubberden, describing the founder and chairman of Interface, a manufacturer of floor covering and fabric that reclaims and recycles carpet to reduce landfill volume. “We knew it was possible to do well with [VSC] and do what was right…” READ MORE IN THIS ISSUE OF THE IOWAN subscribe now
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