University of South Dakota Residence Hall Awarded LEED Gold

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University of South Dakota Residence Hall Awarded LEED Gold

USD celebrates being home to the first LEED Gold residence hall in the state of South Dakota.

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coyote Village, a new 195,000 sf residence hall at the University of South Dakota has been awarded LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council according to project developer, Ambling University Development Group. The LEED rating system is an internationally recognized green building certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.  This is the University’s fourth building constructed to LEED standards, setting the trend for new construction on-campus. Coyote Village is the first LEED Gold certified residence hall in the state of South Dakota and one of only a few in the country.

Coyote Village was developed through a turnkey design-build contract between Ambling University Development Group and the state of South Dakota and funded through Build America Bonds. At an approximate construction cost of $114 per heated square foot and 13-month construction duration, the environmentally sensitive building was underwritten to fully fund itself through student rental revenues.

"Ambling has long been a steward of our environmental resources and implements sustainable and eco-friendly practices in all of our projects," said Greg Blais, President, Ambling University Development Group. "Coyote Village serves as a model of combining extraordinary on-campus living with the commitment to a greener community."

Coyote Village has proven to be anything but a typical dorm. Completed in August 2010, the outside appearance resembles a mountain lodge and features generous amenities within. The four-story building consists of a wood frame structure with stone and stucco exterior and was constructed with a focus on reducing energy use and water while following LEED mandated construction processes.  Examples of these include the efficient use of construction materials, use of recycled and regionally produced materials, and the implementation of USGBC preferred waste management processes and waste reduction. The building features energy efficiency upgrades such as a high-efficiency building envelope with optimized air quality, ENERGY STAR appliances, programmable thermostats, and drought tolerant landscaping.

The building is programmed for the upper classmen student, featuring 550 individual bedrooms within a unit mix of 4 bedroom/2 bath and 2 bedroom/1 bath units. Each unit is equipped with a spacious floor plan, full kitchen or kitchenette and flat screen television.

Rich in common space and amenities, students enjoy all the features of off-campus living with the convenience of being minutes away from class. The building offers wireless internet throughout, a computer lounge, business center, online gaming stations, central laundry facilities, convenience store and a surround-sound theatre.  The facility also boasts on-site management and resident staff members of the University’s housing department.
The addition of Coyote Village is a part of the University’s "Building for the Future" program.  This program involves an effort to modernize campus through the combination of new construction and renovating current facilities.   

The development team was led by Ambling University Development Group and included Niles Bolton Associates as architect and Juneau Construction Company as the general contractor.  For more information about Coyote Village and other sustainable on-campus development solutions, please visit http://www.amblingunivdevgroup.com

About Ambling University Development Group
With a portfolio of 53 campus developments, more than 32,000 student beds and $1.5 billion in development value, Ambling University Development Group’s experience is unmatched as an industry leader in customized on-campus student housing and auxiliary projects.  Providing fully integrated financial, development, construction and management solutions, AUDG transforms the visions of higher education partners into reality through a turnkey process that involves the assurance of a guaranteed budget and schedule; allowing clients to minimize risk and maintain focus on running their institution.  For additional information, visit http://www.amblingunivdevgroup.com/.

About USGBC
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Since USGBC’s founding in 1993, USGBC has grown to more than 18,000 member companies and organizations and a comprehensive suite of LEED green building certification systems. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations all sharing USGBC commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.