The projected ground-breaking for the new Environmental Studies building has been pushed back again to late winter or early spring in 1998. The building was first slated to begin over the summer.
New add-ons such as a water treatment center have pushed the project a little further back, according to Professor of Environmental Studies David Orr, who is a member of the Center's planning committee. Orr said that the new features, however, are expected to contribute to the success of this unique endeavor.
The building has been contemplated on and off for over a dozen years. It was only in 1992-93 however, that the idea was seriously pursued.
A class was offered that focused on the planning of the center, which according to Orr drew a lot of enthusiasm from the student body.
A large part of the the work that the planning committe did was fundraising. Most of the money for the project had to be netted from outside the College.
The building itself will cost about $3.1 million dollars, with total project cost at $6.1 million, Orr said. Costs include all the research and planning that contributed to the project. The add-ons, such as the waste water treatment center, also added an extra $750,000.
The center itself will be totally self-sufficient, according to Orr. It will not release any waste products, nor will it need non-renewable natural resources to run it. A water treatment center will process all the water used and return it for further consumption. The whole building will use natural energy resources, primarily relying on solar power. Even the carpeting and flooring will be returned to the manufacturers to be recycled once they've worn out.
Orr demonstrated the difference between this building and all the traditional buildings on campus by saying that this building will not recieve utility bills. He said that it costs about $1.50 to operate each square foot of each building per year. The Environmental Studies Center will not have these operating costs, allowing the College to avoid an estimated $20,000 a year.
The center is seens as having three primary objectives, according to Orr. One is the advantage of simply having an Environmental Studies Center. "There is no adequate place currently on campus where environmental students can actively pursue their studies," Orr said.
The second goal is to demonstrate that buildings can exist without being distressing to the environment around them. Orr compared it to a tree, living in harmony with its surroundings. In effect it will be like a living organism, responsible for its own input and output. "It will demonstrate the human role in the world. It will show others how to build buildings that do not cast an ecological shadow," said Orr.
Having such a model of sound ecology will also contribute to the education and awareness of Oberlin students as well as the public, Orr said.
"I think this is one of the most important architectural projects to be undertaken anywhere," Orr said. "We are doing this for this generation and for the future."
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