WPI Helps to Create a Learning Center Which is Low on Environmental Impact and High on Style and Design

Completed in September of 2005, WPI is proud to have played an integral part in the construction of the 153,000 square foot Kelley Engineering Center at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.  Designed by Yost Grube Hall Architecture, a Portland firm specializing in environmentally sustainable architecture, the Kelley Engineering Center was created to have a low environmental impact and provide a comfortable teaching and research environment.

The building’s centerpiece is a high-reaching central atrium, which acts as a social gathering space as well as an instrument for natural lighting and ventilation. Spanning the atrium, the semi-transparent roof diffuses and softens natural light while minimizing glare and the greenhouse effect.  Even on the wettest, grayest winter days, the atrium of the Kelley Engineering Center is warm and inviting.

The design of the atrium and classrooms in the Kelley Engineering Center greatly reduces the daytime lighting needs when compared to other more traditionally designed buildings. The building reduces water consumption by an estimated 372,000 gallons per year by making use of a unique system where rainwater is captured for reuse in toilets and urinals within the building. The building also uses photovoltaic and solar water panels to further offset energy consumption.

The scope of work for WPI on this project included structural and light-gauge framing, interior studs and drywall, plastering, acoustical ceiling installation, along with wood ceiling and fascia installation. WPI is proud of the role it played in helping to create an environmentally friendly building which will inspire future generations of students and staff at Oregon State University.