The Benefits of Trash Talk

The Numen Lumen Pavilion is the final building in Elon University’s Academic Village and has been a topic of community interest since its inception in 2012. The center sits at the core of an active campus and many of the building’s eco-friendly features were selected by the student body and faculty.

As the project nears its completion this spring, we discover that one of the least glamorous green details is actually quite remarkable. The project has achieved 98% waste recovery. This keeps construction and demolition debris to minimal levels, diverting tons of waste from the landfills.

The Waste Management Plan required all recyclable materials to be disposed of separately and later sorted. The building itself also incorporated recycled materials, including the steel and concrete in its foundations and the metal stud framing and gypsum in its walls. The university’s aggressive goal for land fill diversion reflects its dedication to the community, and the achievement of that goal reflects the dedication of the Choate team and its subcontractors to the project’s initiatives.