Sustainability at Georgetown University

Sustainability at Georgetown University. A LEED Gold Residence Hall. , Ida Ryan Hall and Isaac Hawkins Hall is a LEED Gold certified residence hall that is home to the Spirit of Georgetown Residential Academy., This site exemplifies adaptive reuse: the process of repurposing an existing building for a use other than its original design. Constructed in the 1800s, the historic hall most recently served as the former residence of the Jesuit community at Georgetown University before being transformed in 2015 into student housing. Through reuse of building elements, the project conserved energy and resources associated with fabricating and transporting new building materials., The residence hall contains covered bicycle parking, reflecting Georgetown's commitment to sustainable transportation and bicycle-friendliness., The site also features a stormwater management system to contribute to a healthy Potomac River watershed. Permeable asphalt and pavers outside of Ryan and Hawkins allow stormwater to filter through voids in the pavement. Rain that falls on the paving and other surfaces is piped to a reservoir beneath the courtyard, reducing runoff. With capacity to hold over 8,500 gallons of stormwater, the reservoir allows water to infiltrate slowly into the soil on site, avoiding discharge to municipal systems.