The Brown School of Social Work’s new building, Hillman Hall, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Hillman is Washington University’s second LEED Platinum project, and the first on the Danforth Campus. The Lofts of Washington University, an $80 million residential and retail project, was awarded the same certification level in 2014.
Green design is at the core of the Hillman Hall project. The building is approximately 105,000 square feet and projected to be 41 percent more efficient than a conventional building due to highly efficient heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, occupancy sensors, and more. The roof features a 66 kw solar array and a deck with planting beds. The site includes a large rain garden to capture storm water and extensive native plantings which will decrease the need for irrigation, reduce the urban heat island effect, create habitat, and increase biodiversity.
Hillman Hall, along with renovations to Brown and Goldfarb Halls, is an expansion of top-ranked social work, public health, and public policy programs. The Clark-Fox Forum is a dynamic open space at the heart of the building now used to host important events, discussions, and conferences by on- and off-campus partners, further increasing the University’s connectivity with the St. Louis community.