Lake Superior College News Releases

Reprinted from the Spring 2008 edition of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Magazine. Written by Nancy Connor with contributions from Gary Kruchowski and Gary Gillin.

Minnesota’s colleges and universities, concerned about the health of campus watersheds and waterways, are taking action to protect nearby streams and lakes by constructing rain gardens.

The 100-acre Lake Superior College campus in Duluth is bisected by Miller Creek, an urban trout stream that cascades down the city’s steep hills to the St. Louis River and then Lake Superior. The college uses the creek as an outdoor teaching laboratory, monitoring water quality and temperature and the species inhabiting the waterway. Faculty observed that rainstorm runoff from the campus’ west parking lot had eroded gullies, allowing warm water carrying fine sediments, car-related pollutants and road salt to enter the spring-fed stream, degrading habitat for brook trout and other stream wildlife.

Through the work of geology instructor Matt Whitehill, the college obtained a $12,000 grant from the Southeast St. Louis County Soil and Conservation District. A rain garden was designed and built to catch and hold runoff from the 2-acre parking lot, greatly reducing pollution entering the creek and slowing water flow following rainstorms.

“This is a step in the right direction for us to practice what we preach,” Whitehill said. “Many of us in the natural sciences cover resource stewardship in our courses. It’s nice to have such an innovative, practical example right outside our door.”

On the Worthington campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College, two similar rain gardens are under construction. The campus community was concerned that water runoff would have a negative impact on the quality of Lake Okabena, adjacent to the campus. The 500-square-foot rain gardens will hold runoff and filter it through sand before it reaches the storm sewer system and ends up in the lake.

“Our students were excited to participate in making the campus more green friendly,” said agriculture instructor Rolf Malberg. The local watershed board, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the local environmental trust partnered to support the students in covering the cost of the rain gardens. Excavation started in fall 2007, with both gardens to be completed this spring.

“The result of this project will benefit the community, lake and water enthusiasts for years to come,” Malberg said.

Metropolitan State University also installed a rain garden along the west side of its new library during construction in 2004 to handle water run-off.

More About Rain Gardens

To learn more about installing and planting rain gardens and how they protect Minnesota’s water quality, visit:

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun04/raingardens.html
• The Lake Superior Streams community project: duluthstreams.org/citizen/wet_garden.html
• The Twin Cities Green Guide: www.thegreenguide.org/article/gardening/rain

Lake Superior College Celebrates Opening of New Academic and Student Services Building; First of its Kind in Sustainable LEED Design

Lake Superior College will celebrate the grand opening of its new $11.2 million Academic and Student Services Building on Friday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Designed by LHB, Inc. of Duluth, the 45,000 square-foot building follows the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System for New Construction (NC). It is the first higher education LEED building in northern Minnesota. The new building provides nine high tech classrooms, open computer labs with 245 computer stations, consolidated student services, and offices.

“We are proud to be a leader in the LEED building approach. Our staff and faculty have been instrumental in encouraging sustainability on our campus,” said LSC President Kathy Nelson. “We know our new building will provide a pleasant and healthy environment to learn and work in for our students, faculty, and staff.”

LEED is a nationally accepted system that provides measurable benchmarks through a credit system for the design, construction, and operation of high performance “green” buildings. “We are pleased to have worked on the first LEED-registered higher education building in northern Minnesota,” noted LHB architect Kevin Holm. “We believe it sets a new standard for energy efficient public buildings and also provides a healthy and comfortable environment for the students, staff, and faculty using the building.” The LEED NC system recognizes and scores performance in five key areas which affect human and environmental health: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

LEED projects are recognized as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum depending on the number of credits a project achieves. Registered as a LEED project in May 2005, the Academic and Student Services Building project is currently tracking as a LEED Certified building. “Our goal is to achieve a silver LEED rating,” noted LHB interior designer and LEED coordinator Kiiri Schoenberg. “The jury is still out on the final designation because the documentation process cannot be finalized until construction is completed. We are working hard to achieve the silver level.”

The new building is designed to reduce student frustration and provide better service by consolidating essential student services into a convenient central area. This provides “one-stop shopping” for the returning or new student. “This new center really says that students’ needs and feelings are important,” said LSC student and Campus Ambassador Becca Krause. “You know you can walk right up to the Student Services reception desk and your problems are on their way to being solved.”

The new Student Services Center includes admissions, financial aid, academic advising, counseling, records and registration, Campus Ambassadors, recruitment, the Business Office, Disability Services, and the new Student Services Testing Center, all closely located on one floor. “We’ll have almost everything a student needs in one central area,” said Vice President of Student Services Beth Adams. “The new space is also designed to enhance what we’ve always had – a great group of staff who serves students.”

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,100 students enrolled this fall semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.