Since the approach was somewhat new in the U.S., designers for two residence halls at Pacific University wanted to err on the conservative side regarding their variable refrigerant flow system’s projected savings. As it turns out, they needn’t have worried. Both projects picked up LEED Gold and exceeded Architecture 2030 Challenge targets while creating comfort flexibility for students.

Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges 2008, Pacific University (Pacific) is a private liberal arts organization with professional programs in education and five health professions. The main campus is located 24 miles west of Portland, OR, on 55 acres in downtown Forest Grove, OR. The university enrolls 1,500 undergraduate students and 1,700 graduate students from 30 states and 28 foreign countries. The school was founded in 1849 by Congregational pioneers as the Tualatin Academy and became Pacific University in 1854.