The winner of the Sustainable Stan Award in February 2012 was Kevin Shelley, AIA, LEED AP BD+C. Kevin is the Project Manager for several Ball State projects, including DeHority Complex, Studebaker East Residence Hall, and the upcoming Johnson A Residence Hall.

The DeHority Complex was the first Ball State project to achieve LEED certification (it achieved silver in February 2010). The Studebaker East and Johnson A Residence Halls are also expected to achieve a minimum of LEED silver certification. To achieve such high performing design requires a thorough understanding of the facilities’ systems and environment—not only for the design team but for the Owner as well.

Schmidt Associates makes a conscientiousness effort to keep its staff educated on a variety of subjects— including sustainable design—through a continuing education program they developed called Schmidt Academy. Last month, Kevin was instrumental in taking Schmidt Academy on the road and informing Ball State users of the benefits of sustainable design in their projects. Using the Studebaker East project as a case study, the presentation addressed the benefits of the chilled beam HVAC system and the solar studies that were used to help address daylighting in spaces, as well as other ways the project achieved LEED credits.

The projects themselves help educate the users and the public on sustainability, but Kevin’s efforts to bridge the gap between the built environment and thought behind the design really connects the users with the project. Kevin is highly deserving of the coveted Sustainable Stan Award for his work with Ball State University.