Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in Grand Junction, Colorado is known for its robust campus sports culture and commitment to sustainability. The Foster Field House project exemplifies that dedication.
The Foster Field House project scored Three Green Globes® for New Construction and received the 2023 Green Globes® Project of the Year Honorable Mention. Mead & Hunt took on the role of expert coach by serving as the sustainability consultant for this project.
Sustainability in Action
Sustainability was an upfront goal for CMU. The use of existing infrastructure contributed to embodied carbon reductions for the building. The operational carbon emissions from the Foster Field House are significantly reduced by using the existing onsite geo-exchange system—one of the largest systems in North America—for heating and cooling. Additionally, the project achieved over 40% water savings through conservation measures inside and outside the building. In the water category, the project increased the score by 10% from initial team assumptions to the final achieved score.
The building’s sustainability and health and wellness features showcase active collaboration and integrated design. Foster Field House has excellent access to daylighting and views. The roof overhang shades half-height windows along the south façade while the full-height windows along the north façade allow ample indirect daylight into the multi-court field house.
The team stepped up to the plate by maximizing existing infrastructure while expanding functionality. The project effectively links three separate existing structures to form a cohesive recreation, athletic, and kinesiology complex. The new courts use an existing concrete slab from a previous temporary project and engage an existing storage building along the south wall of the addition that now provides storage for the courts. The existing track is significantly extended as a new bridge with an elevated track links the existing and new track. The power of successfully building upon existing infrastructure is a sustainable target worth aiming for in future projects.
Experience Drives Excellence
Drawing from our experience with Green Globe® projects, our team understood that continuous conversations and follow-ups make us better team players. We identified and assigned all roles and responsibilities early in design and provided guidance and compliance verification throughout the project’s design and construction stages. CMU’s early sustainability goal setting, SmithGroup’s sustainability leadership, team collaboration, and integrative design were keys to achieving the Foster Field House’s Three Green Globes® certification.