On the “APUS Green Building Blog”, you may track the progress of construction on American Public University System’s new academic center in downtown Charles Town, WV.  The building will be located in the Charles Town – Ranson “Commerce Corridor”, a former Brownfield of abandoned and under-utilized former industrial sites slated for new office and retail development.  As the  academic and admissions center for the university, the building will be constructed for LEED-certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as a “green” facility and built to standards set by US Green Building Council (USGBC).

Wesley Holmes, an Environmental Policy and Management graduate student at APU, will facilitate and lead the blog’s on-going conversation about the construction of the new building as part of a graduate research project. His project will examine the role of the U.S. Green Building Council and its LEED accreditation program in guiding the design and construction of the university’s new building, as well as the program’s effect on both the immediate and long term performance of the building’s energy and hydrologic systems.  Additionally, the “APUS Green Building Blog” will address topics such as environmental policy; sustainable development; natural resource utilization; and responsible, community-oriented growth.

New Academic Center at a Glance

• 45,000 square foot facility on four floors
• 140 initial estimated occupancy
• Built on an abandoned downtown property in a targeted revitalization corridor
• Solar panels on roof provide a portion of the building’s energy requirements
• Highly efficient insulation and windows
• Modern, energy-efficient heating and cooling system
• Climate and lighting controls manage energy use, especially during nights and weekends
• Flooring and other amenities constructed with recycled materials
• Construction targeted for LEED Certification at the Gold Level per standards set by US Green Building Council(USGBC)

Download the APUS Academic Center brochure to learn more about the new building.