ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Muhlenberg College’s newest building has gotten yet another sustainability certification — this time for a blend of energy efficiency and comfortability.
The Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation this month got the Phius Passive House Certification, college officials announced Monday.
“Fahy Commons demonstrates the innovative thinking that is driving Muhlenberg and our region into the future,” Muhlenberg President Kathleen Harring said in a release.
“Its thoughtful, sustainable design reverberates in the advanced learning that is taking shape inside of its classrooms and innovation centers.”
The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, Fahy Commons, 2400 W. Chew St., on March 3 received certification through Phius, a Chicago-based nonprofit that sets standards and certifies high-efficiency buildings.
It’s the third certification, alongside three awards, the building has gotten so far for its sustainable design and construction.
‘Accomplishment worth celebrating’
The Phius Passive House Certification only goes to projects that meet rigorous design and construction standards for passive buildings, emphasizing emergency-efficiency, according to the organization’s website.
So far, there have been more than 7.4 million square feet of certified projects across North America.
Fahy is Pennsylvania’s first non-dormitory higher education passive house and the state’s largest non-residential passive house, officials said.
“Achieving Phius Certification for a project is an accomplishment worth celebrating as it is representative of the hard work of the project team and shows that this project will be among the most efficient and comfortable buildings in the world."James Ortega, Phius project certification manager
“Achieving Phius Certification for a project is an accomplishment worth celebrating, as it is representative of the hard work of the project team and shows that this project will be among the most efficient and comfortable buildings in the world,” Phius Project Certification Manager James Ortega said in the release.
Fahy Commons now is listed in the Phius Certified Projects Database, “the most comprehensive database of passive projects in North America,” officials said.
They noted that all projects included have had their design and energy models vetted, and have been inspected on site by certified quality assurance professionals.
“The rigorous Phius certification process ensures Fahy Commons has been designed and built to perform up to the targets determined by the climate-specific, cost-optimized Phius Standard,” officials said.
Additional accolades
Fahy has racked up sustainability accolades since opening in January 2023.
Last year, Fahy was the first in the world to achieve Core Living Building Certification, a rigorous sustainability certification for buildings that reward housing efforts that produce more energy than they use.
Fahy has been named a LEED Platinum-certified structure by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system worldwide.
It received the 2023 Architectural Excellence Committee on the Environment Award from the American Institute of Architects Pennsylvania chapter.
The 20,000-square-foot, three-floor building cost $13.2 million and sits on land that once held a fraternity house.
It has more than 180 solar panels and a 10,000-gallon rainwater cistern.
The windows are triple-paned and dotted — smaller ones with a film, while the larger ones are acid-etched — to lessen bird impacts.
Bee bricks also were placed outside the building, creating homes for the native insects.
The building also boasts high-efficiency lighting, heating and cooling systems, outdoor classroom and event spaces, and sustainable options for commuters, including an on-site shower and electric vehicle charging stations.
In addition to holding the schools of graduate and continuing studies, the building also houses the office of community engagement, art studio spaces, the Muhlenberg Institute of Public Opinion and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program.
