BOZEMAN, Mont. – The ribbon cutting for Montana State University’s new engineering building was Friday.
MSU’s Norm Asbjornson Hall, which has received national attention because of its described as a LEED “Platinum Building.” The building will be a new learning home for primarily MSU engineering students and faculty for lecturing, studying, labs and research. Though that a large part of the new building will be used for engineering purposes. MSU President Dr. Waded Cruzado says that all students are welcome, this was a campus-wide effort.
“That means that If you’re here, you have individuals, experts, and students in nursing, agriculture, the natural sciences in the philosophies and the arts and together, we brought together the best ideas so that this building talks about the needs of today, but also about the needs of the future,” Cruzado said.
Norm Asbjornson, donated $50 million to make the building possible.
The Norm Asbjornson Hall is technologically ahead of any other building at MSU and buildings at other campuses in the state.
MSU newest building is more than just an ordinary hall, it’s constructed to be one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the state.
“Energy savings comes from collaboration with all the elements in a built environment so anywhere from the building materials.” Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Kevin Amende said.
This material starts with the efficiency of the windows
“The little black slits you see in the siding of the building here allows energy from the outside to the inside which heats the building in even the coldest conditions.” Amende said.
“By having all of our fresh air preheated through solar walls, so they’re transpired solar collectors is what they are. They have very small very small slits in them and we have a large area so it’ll come into a cavity that preheats the air. So for example, if it’s sunny and 0 degrees outside we can preheat that air 30 degrees or 50 degrees.” Amende said.
Not only is the hall efficient in the way it’s built, but it’s also efficient for students.
“When they get out of class, there are places for them to land and to work on projects there are tables, power outlets, whiteboards for them to be able to go through and work problems in impromptu locations.” Amende concluded.
The Norm Asbjornson Hall is one of only ten buildings in Montana as LEED Platinum, the highest distinction by the U.S. Green Building Council.
