Campus Events and Media Releases

University of Maine at Farmington Celebrates New Education Center with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony-March 31

FARMINGTON, MAINE (March 26, 2007)--University of Maine at Farmington is
pleased to announce that it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its
newly constructed, soon-to-be LEED certified Education Center at 3 p.m.,
Saturday, March 31, in the building's lobby. Following the ceremony, led by
Theodora J. Kalikow, UMF president, visitors can enjoy tours of the
facility complete with educational presentations on its "green" features
given by the building's architect, PDT Architects of Portland; and the
contractor, Consigli Construction Co., based in Portland and Milford, Mass.
The event is free and open to the public.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins was the honorary chairperson of UMF's Education
Matters! Campaign for the Education Center. Peter C. Doran, of Belgrade;
and Lee Cabana, UMF class of 1975, of Waterville, co-chaired the successful
fundraising campaign.

"We're thrilled to present our most recent accomplishment," said Kalikow.
"Our dream of constructing an environmentally-friendly Education Center was
made possible by the generosity of many donors and the citizens of Maine
who voted for its funding on the original bond issue. This is an example of
a successful public/private partnership--one that promises bright futures
for many generations of UMF students, faculty and staff."

The $8.8 million, 44,000 square foot Education Center was created to house
the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation and was one of
Maine's first LEED-registered buildings. The Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the nationally
accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high
performance green buildings. The center, which includes, the Kalikow
Curriculum Materials Center, 10 technology-equipped "smart" classrooms, a
technology lab, study areas, conference rooms, offices, and space for two
community partners: the Western Maine Partnership and Everyone's Resource
Depot, was designed to serve as an ecological teaching tool for UMF
students, K-12 students, practicing teachers and the region.

Its major green components include a geo-thermal heating and air
conditioning system that is estimated to save more than 40% in energy
costs; window glazing to decrease heat loss in the winter and reduce cool
air loss in the summer; use of construction materials with recycled
content; use of interior materials and furnishings that do not emit indoor
pollutants; and sustainable landscape design. The Education Center is soon
expected to attain the United States Green Building Council's LEED "silver"
certification.

The low-cost/high-efficiency performance of the Education Center
demonstrates that a LEED certified facility is a viable and affordable
alternative to traditional building methods. The Education Center serves as
a showcase and a teaching tool for those interested in energy-efficient
building systems and represents UMF's commitment to environmental
stewardship and to graduating responsible global citizens who care about
the environment.

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