Guilford College - Archdale Hall Renovations
Greensboro, North Carolina
Guilford College is a small, private, four-year liberal arts college in Greensboro, North Carolina. Founded in 1837, the college campus is comprised of many historic buildings, including the 120-year-old Archdale Hall, the college's oldest building.
University officials saw the need to restore and renovate the historic building—and also recognized the importance of making it energy-efficient. Transforming a 120-year-old building into one that is energy-efficient may sound like an oxymoron, but Spectrum Design was perfectly suited for the challenge. The firm had designed similar projects for the Town of Blacksburg, and the City of Roanoke, among others.
In its plans, Spectrum Design incorporated "green" elements such as high-efficiency lighting and super-efficient heating and cooling systems that use variable refrigerant flow and variable speed heat pump compressors. Low-water consumption plumbing fixtures will be installed, including waterless urinals and mechanisms to recycle rainwater for toilet water. The building will also have extra-thick insulation made from recycled cellulose and paper.
Designs also allowed Archdale Hall's exterior to remain intact, and recommended the restoration of several interior elements, including the hardwood floors, 11-foot plaster ceilings and wood wainscot/plaster walls. New electrical and mechanical systems will be installed, as well as a new roof.
With the help of Spectrum Design, the college plans to apply for the U.S. Green Building Council's prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the national benchmark for high performance green building.
Construction is scheduled to be completed later this year.
