Ribbon Cutting Washington College’s Semans-Griswold Environmental Center
On the lovely autumn evening of October 18, 2019 Washington College held the dedication and ribbon cutting for the Semans-Griswold Environmental Hall, a 11,500 square foot building. It is the new home of the Center for the Environment and Society providing teaching and research laboratory, academic, and office spaces for the College’s biology and environmental programs.
The building is located on a brownfield site that was purchased and remediated by the college. Part of the site previously was a fertilizer plant with another part a fuel depot on the waterfront in Chestertown.
The building is fully sustainable providing 105% of its electric needs with 89kW roof-mounted photovoltaic array and a 60kWh lithium-ion energy storage system. Heating and Cooling is via a geothermal system. It has been built to meet the rigorous standard of the Living Building Challenge.
One feature of its state-of-the art marine science lab is that there is a river flow-through system that bring water from the Chester River to the lab. This allows the faculty and students to study the river ecology in a controlled environment.
Joining College President Kurt Landgraf and the Center for the Environment & Society Director, Dr John Seidel, was Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, College’s Trustee and CEO of General Electric, Lawrence Culp and the building’s namesakes Jay Griswold and Truman Semans.
Photo: SG Atkinson. More photos from the Ribbon Cutting can be seen on our Facebook Page
