New 'green' classrooms open winter quarter

By Molly Leaverton

Following almost a year of construction, the Commons at Kennedy Mall is now open for classes.

The new 7,500 square foot building is set in between Dunne, Swig, McLaughlin and Walsh residence halls. The new commons building serves as an area for students and faculty to study and relax.

"I have to admit I was skeptical at first, but, now that I have walked through it I am really excited about using it," said sophomore Dunne resident, Katie Ryan.

The Commons contains administrative offices, a multi-purpose room and two classrooms.

"It's exciting to be the first class to use a new room at the university. The building is beautiful and the landscaping soon will be. The building is nice because it is close to where many students live," said English professor John C. Hawley.

The Commons was built to promote a environmentally friendly facility and "green" building concepts.

Features of the building include natural ventilation, a solar chimney, day lighting, a green roof that supports live planting, ground water cooling and insulating straw bale walls.

The building has not yet been landscaped, but pathways have been made to connect the new building to the surrounding residence halls and Benson Memorial Center over what was formerly Alviso Street. The dirt area outside of the building will be planted with grass that will serve as a recreational area for students.

"Although the noise of construction has been annoying to us all, the building, beautiful landscaping and lawn area will benefit the entire campus," said Jane Barrantes, director of Auxiliary Services.

Contact Molly Leaverton at (408) 554-4546 or mleaverton@scu.edu.