Furman receives Green Globes for residence hall renovation

Furman University has received two Green Globes for the renovation of South Housing residence hall, McGlothlin+Poteat. The Green Globes honor is a program of the Green Building Initiative, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable, healthy and resilient buildings through education, standards and certification programs.

McGlothlin+Poteat, a hall that houses first-year students, joins Blackwell Hall (formerly Lakeview Hall) and North Village Housing, which received Green Globes in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The Green Globes-certified buildings add to the roster of eight LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified buildings on campus, including South Carolina’s first building to earn the LEED badge, Herman M. Hipp Hall, built in 2003.

Laura Bain ’02, The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities.

Furman’s Laura Bain ’02, associate director of sustainability assessment at The Shi Institute, said the latest recognition from GBI speaks to the intentional way Furman addresses sustainability in the built environment.

“The planning, construction, operation and maintenance of a building impacts both its occupants and the surrounding environment,” Bain said. “Achieving a green building certification means we’re keeping sustainable practices front of mind when we build and renovate structures on our campus.”

McGlothlin+Poteat underwent major changes to the mechanical equipment, “improving the overall health of the building,” said Ty Bowling, director of facilities maintenance. Installing efficient air handlers, heat boilers and water heaters were among the priorities for the renovation. Using all-LED lighting and water-saving toilets, sinks and showers are other examples of Earth-friendly practices, Bowling added.

Not all construction projects on Furman’s 950-acre campus will go through the assessment procedures for Green Globes or LEED, said Jeff Redderson, associate vice president of facilities and campus services, but the end game remains the same.

“I am very excited Furman has received the Green Globes certification,” Redderson said. “Our goal is to apply these same principles and practices to all our building projects going forward even if they do not go through the same certification process.”

For Bain, the Green Globes credential underscores two priorities.

“It’s an important example of how Furman aims to provide optimal living and learning spaces for students while upholding our commitment to sustainability,” she said.

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, Mackey Mitchell Architects and RMF Engineering worked alongside Furman University on the project.