Muhlenberg Fahy Commons
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Deep green Living Building Challenge Core + LEED Platinum faculty and student multi-purpose building at the campus woodland edge
Three big ideas:
LBC Core,
Biophilic Design,
Bird Friendly
With the first new building constructed on campus since 2006, Muhlenberg College is putting forth a built example of their deep commitment to sustainability with the Fahy Commons. In addition to tracking for LEED Platinum certification, the multi-purpose 20,000 sf building is also one of the first 20 projects in the world to pursue Living Building Challenge Core certification. The Fahy Commons is rooted in biophilic design – design which brings us in touch with nature both through direct and indirect experiences. To enter the off-axis building, visitors move around a natively planted rain garden and then experience sweeping views through the building towards a wooded hill descending to Lake Muhlenberg.
Fast Facts
Living Building Challenge Core Ready
LEED Platinum
Half hectare of carbon-sequestering meadow restoration
Rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing
Deep energy efficiency with a 73 kW rooftop photovoltaic array and a Passive House building envelope
Achieved Passive House air-tightness levels in blower door testing
High-efficiency VRF HVAC system with continuous fresh air ventilation for healthy interiors
Bird-safe glazing designed in conjunction with Muhlenberg’s world-renowned ornithologist
Third-party diversity and inclusion assessment
So, what is LBC Core?
The Core Green Building Certification is a version of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) which focuses on ten core practices seen as the baseline for deep green building. Following the primary structure of LBC, Core imperatives are in seven divisions referred to as petals: Place, Water, Energy, Health + Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty. While LBC is known for setting the highest and most rigorous goals for green building in the industry, Core seeks to set achievable and meaningful goals for project teams which are interested in upping their green certification game but may not be ready for the full Challenge.
For Muhlenberg, pursuing Core was an easy choice as it was perfectly aligned with their sustainability plan and offered an engaging experience for faculty, students, recruits, and the community.
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