Progressive Engineer

Isn’t She Lovely?

May 22, 2010 | Uncategorized


“She” is the Litoff Building, a keynote facility on the campus of Oberlin College in Ohio. Stevie Wonder wrote “Isn’t She Lovely” about his newborn daughter, a befitting song for the dedication of the Litoff Building. Wonder is among the artists who performed during the building’s opening celebration in April.

 

This signature building will house the Oberlin Conservatory of Music’s nationally recognized Department of Jazz Studies. It will also include a state-of-the-art recording studio and the largest privately held jazz recording collection in the United States, which will likely include Wonder hits.

 

KS Associates in Elyria, Ohio had the distinct pleasure of working with architects Westlake Reed Leskosky (WRL) on the project. Their role was to provide civil engineering and surveying services, specifically addressing site issues such as grading, parking, utilities and stormwater management facilities.

 
One of the most compelling aspects of the project is its sustainability features. The project’s design intention is to achieve the first LEED Gold rating for a facility dedicated exclusively to music. KS Associates’ site design solutions were aimed at helping the architect achieve LEED Credits in the following categories:
– Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
– Alternative Transportation (Parking Capacity)
– Site Development (Protect or Restore Habitat, Maximize Open Space)
– Stormwater Management (Quality Control)
 
The firm thanks WRL for the opportunity to participate on this important project — “from the bottom of our hearts” (of course, another Wonder chart-topping hit).