Clinical Sciences Building Receives ‘Best of B3’ Award for Indoor Environmental Quality
Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Clinical Sciences Building has won a “Best of B3 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) – Classroom/Lab” award from the State of Minnesota Buildings, Benchmarks & Beyond (B3) energy and sustainability program in which all state-funded buildings participate.
According to the B3Mn.org website, the “Best of B3 awards are given to organizations and projects that have shown leadership in improving their sustainability through their participation in the B3 programs.”
The B3Mn.org website said that “Best of B3 Design finalists are selected from among all B3 Guidelines projects based on timely submission of B3 Guidelines documentation, predicted non-energy sustainable performance (water efficiency, biodiversity, sustainable materials, etc.) and a number of optional guidelines pursued.”
Minnesota State Mankato President Richard Davenport said it was an honor for the University’s Clinical Sciences Building to receive the award.
“We’re proud that the Clinical Sciences Building received a Best of B3 award from the State of Minnesota,” said Davenport. “Not only is this a state-of-the-art facility for student learning, but this wonderful building will be a regional asset for many generations to come – a place where community members can come for appointments in dental hygiene, speech and hearing, and many other areas of health care. We are grateful to the many individuals within the University and local communities who contributed to designing this facility, and we thank our Minnesota legislators for providing funding for the Clinical Sciences Building.”
Kris Retherford, dean of the College of Allied Health and Nursing at the University, echoed Davenport’s comments.
“We are so proud to receive this award.” said Retherford. “As a team, we sought to design a flexible, innovative facility that would allow our students to be engaged in state-of-the-art academic and clinical experiences that would enhance their preparation for their chosen professions. We wanted spaces that had lots of sunlight and would be inviting to our patients and clients.”
According to Paul Corcoran, assistant vice president for facilities management at Minnesota State Mankato, the Best of B3 award “recognized that we designed a building environment in which our students and faculty enjoy learning/working, and also recognizes the University’s commitment to maintaining the facility since its opening.”
The Clinical Sciences Building is a 79,131-square-foot, three-story facility that opened for classes in January 2017. The $28.883 million total project budget for the building included a $2,065,000 capital bond for design in 2012 and the $25,818,000 capital bond for construction in 2014 that former Governor Mark Dayton signed into law and $1 million in campus funds to add a basement. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Sept. 26, 2014, and the University occupied the building in December 2016.
Those with questions may contact Corcoran by phone at 507-389-6802 or by email at paul.corcoran@mnsu.edu.
The Best of B3 award winners were announced in a recent virtual recognition event.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,604 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.
