Muhlenberg College opens “Living” building

Muhlenberg College showcased its newest academic building built for sustainability as Earth Day approached.

Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, a $13.2 million, 21,000-square-foot “living” building, that replaced a former fraternity house, opened to the public April 28.

Rick Waligora, capital projects manager for Muhlenberg, said the building, which has been open for classes since January, was designed for sustainability and flexibility and is the first in the world to achieve the Living Building Challenge Core Green Building Certification, the latest and most honorable certification available.

“This was designed to be visually appealing as if you were outside,” Waligora said. “It is a biophilic design that uses natural lighting to promote a sense of peace and calm.”

The college received a $7.5 million gift from alumnus Gerald P. Fahy and his wife Cathleen. Muhlenberg College said it is the largest personal gift in its history.

Signs throughout the facility explain all the features the building offers. Waligora said education is what the college does, so it made sense to incorporate the information.

Fahy Commons uses 50% less water and 70% less electricity than buildings of its size. Every room, except utility rooms, has windows, not only for the natural light, but to visually bring the outdoors inside, he said.

A system throughout the building senses the amount of natural light coming in and adjusts the brightness of the interior lights to save on electricity. Waligoreasaid the offices are all equipped with lights that automatically turn off when not in use.

“The lights turn off after five minutes, but we encourage people to turn them off when they leave,” he said. “Those five minutes add up if you put them all together.”

The air conditioning also adjusts when rooms are vacant. Waligora said the system holds the temperature at a specified level and when someone walks in, it adjusts.

The building was designed to offer flex space and has seating areas throughout for meetings or for space to study or socialize. There are also outside classroom areas.

Waligora said the building has 183 solar panels on the roof which, on average, will provide 75% to 80% of the energy needed. When the panels produce more than needed, the excess goes back to the grid and the college receives credit, he said.

There is a 10,000-gallon rainwater cistern under the center terrace that overlooks Lake Muhlenberg. Waligora said the rainwater that hits the roof runs through gutters into the cistern. The water then flows through a filtration system and is used to flush the toilets throughout the building.

In addition, the college added rain gardens to collect excess rainwater. Those gardens are filled with indigenous plants to not only beautify the landscape but help the wildlife.

Waligora said there are four bee bricks built into one corner of the building, providing space for bees to nest when they need to.

“We were originally going to build an addition to the fraternity house, but we got an extra year due to the pandemic and decided to build a living building,” Waligora said.

That decision was based on the desire to be more sustainable. Waligora said the trees that were removed for construction were used to make some of the furniture that adorns the new facility.

“A staff member who works with wood met with the arborists and created tables and benches from the trees,” he said.

The building also utilizes triple pane glass for insulation and all the windows have “dots” incorporated so birds don’t fly into them.

“It’s all about sustainability and keeping our wildlife safe is a big part of that,” he said.