EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Commons at Marquette University is a state-of-the-art residence hall. It provides a welcoming “home away from home” for Marquette’s first- and second-year students. Sustainability was a driving factor in the project to make the local community a better place to live, work, and play. Specifically, sustainable construction and design features incorporated into the project live with the building post-occupancy. They allow residents to directly experience sustainability at Marquette University in their daily lives. Some of these design and construction strategies included: - Proper erosion control to avoid stormwater and sewer runoff - Material recycling and waste diversion that was tracked and measured where over 3,350 tons of materials were diverted from landfills, which was nearly 90% of the total construction debris - Stormwater collection tank buried below the central courtyard to collect and utilize rainwater for irrigation on the property. - Green roof system to go above and beyond minimum stormwater collection requirements - Low-emitting materials and products - Low-flow water fixtures and energy-efficient LED lighting. The listed features certainly allow The Commons to operate efficiently. They save energy, support the environment, and create a unique addition to Marquette University. The Commons also achieved LEED Silver.

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NOTABLE SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES USED IN THE PROJECT:
A focus was placed on sustainability and LEED for The Commons. Not only was this driven by environmental demands, but also by the team’s commitment to make the local community a better place to live, work, and play through green building solutions. 
Throughout construction, emphasis was on proper erosion control to avoid stormwater and sewer runoff. Additionally, material recycling and waste diversion were tracked and measured. In total, over 3,350 tons of materials were diverted from landfills, which was nearly 90% of the total construction debris. 

The project also included the installation of a stormwater collection tank. Buried below the central courtyard, the tank collects and utilizes rainwater for irrigation on the property. Although this tank meets all required regulations for stormwater management, the University also made the decision to install a green roof system to go above and beyond minimum requirements. 
Lastly, on the interior of the building, low emitting materials were used throughout construction, which included adhesives, sealants, paints, flooring, composite wood, and agri-fiber products. In addition, low-flow water fixtures and energy-efficient LED lighting were installed throughout the building. 
The benefits described above enable The Commons to operate more efficiently, save money, help the environment, and bring a unique addition to the campus. Such building features also helped The Commons achieve LEED Silver.

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