TKDA to Present at AASHE Sustainability Conference

University of Minnesota 17th Avenue Residence Hall and Dining Center Gray Water Case Study
Tuesday, October 27, 8:30 a.m.

TKDA is presenting a sustainable design feature of the University of Minnesota’s newest Residence Hall and Dining Center at the AASHE Conference in Minneapolis this week. TKDA’s Architect-of Record, Brian Morse, and Lead Mechanical Engineer, Greg Trende of Michaud Cooley Erickson will present an overview of the Residence Hall’s gray water system. The system provides a site water management strategy for a constrained urban setting with few options for on-site infiltration. Minimizing run-off to the nearby Mississippi River was a major objective. The design gathered water from the facility’s roofs and site, as well as from the adjacent property’s surface parking lots. The system provides non-potable water for residence hall water closets and site irrigation, and has the ability to fill watering trucks for off-site use. The presentation will describe monitoring and displaying systems that track performance, assess energy use, and educate users/residents. The discussion will include a review of the system’s performance since becoming operational, and the lessons learned from the design, construction and operation.

TKDA was the Architect-of-Record for the 17th Avenue Student Residence Hall and Dining Facility. A collaborative project with design architects Mackey Mitchell, the 600-bed facility features “super suite” accommodations for students and private apartments for advising staff. The dining facility’s commercial kitchen prepares and serves three meals a day in an innovative, fresh food delivery method. Community spaces and state-of-the-art technology is featured throughout the building. Constructed to meet Minnesota’s B3 sustainability standards, the building offers energy efficient design, systems, and equipment, including a green, vegetated roof with a water collection system, energy-saving appliances, and sensor lighting.