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 achieving LEED Platinum certification, the multi-purpose 20,000 sf building is also the first Living Building Challenge Core ready building in the world. 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 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

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living building logo

Living Building Challenge Core Ready (first in the world!)

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.

Project Gallery

Aerial view of the main building entrance facade. Photo courtesy of Muhlenberg College/Marco Calderon.
View of the front facade with rain gardens.
View of main building entrance. Photo courtesy of Muhlenberg College/Marco Calderon
Aerial view of the rear building facade w/ PV array. Photo courtesy of Muhlenberg College/Marco Calderon.
The entrance vestibule features an educational sustainability dashboard that showcases real-time energy and water use along with case studies for how Living Building Challenge Core has been achieved. Photo courtesy of Muhlenberg College/Marco Calderon
Upon entering the building, visitors are greeted with a view over a double height space to the forest behind the building.
An open and inviting stair connects the three levels of the building. Ensuring daylight and views through the building from all points was a critical planning consideration.
The primary building stair is built of sustainable white oak. Photo courtesy of Muhlenberg College/Marco Calderon
The lower level of the building features a double height multi-purpose space that showcases the forest behind the building and provides access to the outdoor terraces.
Custom furniture was built by a Muhlenberg staff member and made from trees removed from the site during demolition. Photo courtesy of Muhlenberg College/Marco Calderon
Just off of the main double height space is the brains and muscle of the rainwater harvesting system that connects to a 10,000 gallon cistern under the terraces. The collected rainwater is used for flushing toilets in the building.
The lower level of the building features a maker space that doubles as classroom and fabrication studio.
This multi-purpose classroom features operable windows with views to the tree canopy south of the building. It also is connected visually through the building to views of campus.
The building features four corner study lounges for students to collaborate in or do heads down work.
The top floor of the building features a student lounge with custom fabricated furniture from site-salvaged wood that overlooks the main campus.
A top floor roof deck provides outdoor meeting and relaxation space overlooking the forest and Lake Muhlenberg in the distance.
The Fahy Commons anchors the central campus greenspace and connects campus to Lake Muhlenberg.
The site features native planting, a half hectare of carbon-sequestering meadow restoration, and landscape boulders salvaged from the foundation excavation.
Building Floor Plans
The Fahy Commons is an integrated system of sustainability strategies.
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