The Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health (DCIH) has been selected as the winner of the Consumers Energy 2021 Project of the Year in the Large Commercial category.
This annual award recognizes businesses for their commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability in building projects.
"Grand Valley continuously strives to help the environment by improving energy performance and reducing energy consumption with innovative design strategies and operational practices," said Karen Ingle, associate vice president for Facilities Planning. "The university is very proud to receive this award."
DCIH, which opened in May 2021, is LEED Gold certified and predicted to achieve an energy cost savings of 20% per year for the university. Ingle said the project utilized passive design strategies, which reduced the amount of energy needed to operate the building.
The 166,000-square-foot health center features interior and exterior LED lighting and was intentionally designed to allow ample daylight into the structure, decreasing the amount of energy needed to light the space throughout the day.
Other sustainable features of DCIH include a fully-integrated lighting and HVAC system, high-efficiency boilers and increased roof insulation.
The university collaborated with LEED consultant Catalyst Partners on the award submission. A $15,000 check awarded to GVSU for the recognition will support future capital projects.
To learn more about the many innovations that can be found at DCIH, read the story from the GV Magazine archives.
