Gilbane’s Tempo and ‘EMU Welcome Home 2025 Plan’ Student Housing Projects Honored with Innovator Awards
Tempo was designed and constructed using The National Green Building Standard (NGBS), the only green building rating system for homes and apartments approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The property achieves high marks in sustainability in areas of lot design and preparation, stormwater management, resource efficiency, energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality. By redeveloping a blighted property – two urban infill parcels where a fast-food establishment and abandoned restaurant were located – and significantly increasing the quality of the site, Tempo contributes to a more environmentally and socially sustainable city – preserving existing open land and wildlife and empowering people to find greener commuting options. Tempo apartment units feature ENERGY STAR refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, bathroom humidity sensors, and Ecobee smart thermostats; low-flow rate faucets and showerheads; CARB 2 compliant cabinets; and low-emissions carpeting and interior paint among other green features throughout the property.
Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU’s) Welcome Home 2025 is a critically important and exciting equity initiative seeking to completely transform the existing on-campus student housing experience and ensure all EMU on-campus residents have access to quality, affordable housing designed to meet 21st century standards. To address financial challenges, the University turned to external financing and expertise and selected Gilbane Development Company to lead the transformative three-year, $212 million campus housing initiative. The creative financing plan crafted by the team allowed Welcome Home 2025 to come to fruition with groundbreaking occurring as planned in October 2022 and permanent financial closing in November of 2022.
