Case Study: Tulane University

Problem

Tulane University needed an efficient air conditioning alternative to beat the New Orleans heat and humidity when constructing a LEED® certified football stadium. After 40 years of sharing the Superdome, the school planned to give Tulane’s fans a dedicated home field without sacrificing comfort. Although the university had previous green building experience, the on-campus stadium with a proposed capacity of 30,000 provided new challenges. To achieve LEED certification, the design needed sustainable materials, on-site water retention, and energy-efficient products and equipment.

Solution

On opening day of the newly constructed Yulman Stadium, Tulane’s fans, the Green Wave, were met with a different wave: air movement. Forty Essence® fans, measuring 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.1 m) in diameter, created airflow along the concourse and open-air terrace. A Tulane Fan Cooling Zone equipped with four upright 8-ft (2.4-m) Big Ass Fans cooled visitors in the entrance tunnel. Eight more fans on the field, outfitted with misters, cooled players without soaking the sidelines. The completed project is now a continuing education subject for the regional U.S. Green Building Council chapter.