Wausau's Windows Help Carnegie Mellon University Earn Second LEED Rating and Meet Seismic, Aesthetic Needs

Wausau Window and Wall Systems® contributed to Carnegie Mellon University's second LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Rating System®, by providing windows that met the structural, environmental and aesthetic needs of Henderson House's historic student residence, the company says.

Originally commissioned by Andrew Carnegie and designed by architect Henry Hornbostel, Henderson House's 2003 renovation and expansion was respectful of its heritage under the design direction of RSH Architects from Pittsburgh. The updated student residence has now increased available occupancy by 50 percent.

CMU seeks LEED certification for all its construction projects and Henderson House is the college's second LEED-rated project, earning Silver certification in December 2004. Since then, CMU's Posner Gallery and the Collaborative Innovation Center also have been designed to meet LEED criteria.

Wausau Window and Wall Systems partnered with long-time customer, Pennsylvania glazing contractor D-M Products, Inc., to continue the 20-year history the two companies have with CMU, providing window systems on nearly a dozen campus buildings including Mudge House, the University Center, Doherty Hall, Newell-Simon Hall, Roberts Engineering Hall, and the Purnell Center for Performing Arts.

"We have such a long-standing relationship with Wausau and D-M Products," says Phil Popowicz, facility project manager for CMU. "They are a class act - wonderful to work with."

Adding to this challenge, they learned that the residence sits on a geological fault, requiring that building also conform to seismic specifications. Contributing to the project's environmental and structural goals, Wausau's Heritage windows also preserve the original structure's traditional architectural features and complement its fieldstone walls. In addition to matching the classic collegiate styling, these windows significantly upgraded the old steel frame, single pane units' performance while staying within budget and on schedule.