Mills CampanilThe hulking form of the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business is still taking shape on Orchard Meadow, and construction will continue all semester.
The building is slated for completion in July 2009, a month later than originally predicted. It will be available to students for use in the fall. The building will house the Masters of Business Arts programs and include reception and meeting areas with a full catering kitchen.
According to Architectural Assistant Brian Harrington, construction has been focused on achieving a gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED certification, ensuring the green future of the campus.
Features in and outside the MBA Building will help attain its green status, such as the green roof, operable windows, radiant heating, low emission paint and a water collection system similar to what is present in the Natural Science Building.
While the New Science Building is Platinum LEED certified, Harrington says that the campus team is only planning on trying to attain Gold status for the new building.
“Some types of buildings make it more difficult to do Platinum [status]” Harrington says.
Factors such as proximity to public transit, which help buildings achieve higher statuses, can’t be changed by construction.
The MBA building also won’t have air conditioning; with Harrington assuring students that “the temperatures in our climate really don’t get high enough to warrant mechanical cooling for just a few days.”
In the coming months, Barbara Haber said students should look forward to a reduction in exterior construction, as most of the outer shell of the building is complete.
In an e-mail, Renee Jadushlever, vice president for operations stated that the building, which also features a pond and multiple group meeting spots, will be ready for faculty, staff and students to move in Aug. 2009.
As for taking a tour?
“None of that is really being planned at this point in time,” said Haber.
