Illinois School Breaks Ground, Builds Green in Phases
MOLINE, Ill. — Phase II of the Western Illinois University Quad Cities (WIU-QC) Riverfront Campus in Moline broke ground Aug. 29, and like Phase I, will be constructed using several green building elements. The new campus will provide services for more than 3,000 students; currently it serves only 1,400.
Phase I was completed in January 2012 and received LEED Silver certification. Davenport, Iowa-based Bush Construction served as the general contractor for Phase I and will do so again for Phase II, with plans to achieve LEED Silver certification in the second phase as well.
“We look forward to working with WIU-QC again on Phase II,” said A.J. Loss, president of Bush Construction, in a statement. “We commend them for their commitment to green building and for providing a healthy environment for their students and employees.”
Bush was chosen for its $29.5 million single prime bid that includes construction on a 94,800-square-foot classroom complex, which will feature academic programs and services from the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Services, and Fine Arts and Communication. The buildings will consist of classrooms, computer labs, science labs, offices and support space. Like Phase I, it will feature a modern steel and glass design.
Phase I included the renovation of a two-story, 60,300-square-foot building, used by the College of Business and Technology. The project consisted of partial demolition of the existing structure, multiple additions and remodeling.
“Green building in education construction is the wave of the future, and it’s here now,” said Dr. Joseph A. Rives, vice president of Quad Cities and Planning for Western Illinois University, in a statement. “We are very pleased with the work that Bush Construction did on Phase I. They brought us a LEED certified, environmentally friendly facility on-time and under budget.”
Green building elements for Phase II will include vegetative roofing, geothermal technology, enhanced commissioning, daylighting and waste management and recycling. The project specifically stipulates that a minimum of 75 percent of construction waste will be recycled.
The WIU-QC Riverfront Campus is being constructed along the Mississippi River on 20 acres of donated land, which was previously John Deere’s Technical Center. Not only will the new campus provide more educational opportunities for students, the City of Moline plans on revitalizing the area surrounding the WIU-QC Riverfront Campus into a community and university-friendly development.
“The business community is thrilled to see Phase II of the WIU Quad Cities campus taking shape,” said Tara Barney, president and CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “Employers in all industry sectors are excited about the expanded offerings for students and employees, as well as the business opportunities this phase of riverfront development will spark in our region. An educational initiative of this scale has tremendous economic upside for the Quad Cities.”
Phase II is funded by $38 million released by Governor Pat Quinn as part of Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program. Completion of the second phase project is scheduled for summer 2014.
Plans for Phase III are also underway as the university continues to advocate for design and construction funding from the sate. In the spring of 2013, the university will conduct a programming study with students, faculty, staff and community members that will help determine the location of Phase III.