Elmhurst College West Hall,
Elmhurst, IL

Type: Higher Education, LEED Projects

West Hall is Elmhurst’s newest living facility and the first building on the Elmhurst College Campus to achieve LEED® Gold Certification for sustainable design. The “H-shaped” residence hall is placed on an axis with the existing Hammerschmidt Chapel, creating an inviting and intimate courtyard space between buildings. Each floor offers a mixture of single and double suites featuring a common living room and private bathing and toilet facilities for the students.

Project highlights include:

> 2008 ACEC Illinois, Engineering Excellence Award – Merit Award for Sustainable Site Design

> 44 suites housing 170 students

> Offices for residential life administration

> Two bedroom resident coordinator apartment

> Student lounge space on each floor, kitchenettes on second and third floors

> Solar thermal roof panels and low-flow water fixtures

> Recycled materials such as brick, concrete and cement block

> Bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavers, monitoring equipment for stormwater

> Community outreach with educational signage

> LEED Gold Certification