EPiC Building Remodel Means Big Things for RMCAD's Campus
This fall marked the opening of an important addition to Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design’s campus. The EPiC building renovation—which opened its second-floor classrooms, offices and student lounge earlier in the year—was completed with first-floor space that highlights the College’s commitment to providing safe, sustainable, functional, beautiful spaces in which our students can thrive.
The space plays home to new photography, painting, and printmaking facilities. Since these three areas often use toxic materials and create toxic waste, RMCAD was very conscientious in complying with—and in most cases going far beyond—the local, state and federal codes and standards that apply to the design, construction and operation of these spaces.
Our Campus Planning department, in conjunction with RMCAD’s Sustainability Coordinator, addressed potential problems with innovative environmental and cost-conscious solutions:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Printmaking Pigments | |
Different pigments can have different hazards, ranging from allergies, to cancers, to respiratory ailments. |
We will use water-based paints to reduce and potentially eliminate the use of solvents. |
| Printmaking Solvents | |
Used as modifiers and clean-up products, common hazards are respiratory ailments, eye and skin irritation as well as flammability. |
Reducing or eliminating solvents meant that we were able to reduce the number/size of chemical cabinets in the space (which cost anywhere from $500–$3000 each). Additionally, we did not need as many local exhaust vents, saving potentially several hundreds of thousands of dollars in capital and operating costs. |
| Acids and Etches | |
Used to etch or eat away the plate, they can cause skin, eye and respiratory damage. Some acids require local exhaust ventilation to prevent harm. |
Previously the class was taught in a method that used nitric acid, hard ground and soft ground, liquid tusche, and lacquer thinner. The new faculty is using the same processes as before, however less toxic products have been substituted. Additionally, the faculty agreed to eliminate citric acid from the Edinburgh process and instead purchase two vertical tank systems: one has ferric chloride, and the other soda ash. The plate is dipped in the ferric chloride and then the same plate is dipped in the soda ash. This will neutralize and capture the copper, which will not allow this metal to enter the sanitation system (go down the drain). The plate is then sprayed with vinegar to further neutralize it. Once a semester, the used soda ash is taken to the haz mat storage site and then retrieved by Clean Harbors. The elimination of citric acid means less need for chemical cabinet space (money saved), a safer working/learning environment and no need for local exhaust vents, saving potentially several hundreds of thousands of dollars in capital and operating costs. |
| Printmaking Rosins | |
Rosins can be explosive, similar to a grain elevator explosion. |
Rather than use an aquatint box, which introduces the risk of spark and explosion, students will spray on aquatint under a spray booth. |
| French Chalk | |
Some forms can be contaminated with asbestos. |
Will be used minimally, and a respirator will be used under a local exhaust vent. |
| Photography | |
| Many photographic chemicals are complex organic chemicals (some known to be hazardous), however, many of them have not been studied as to their health hazards. The Photography Faculty did remove some of the more toxic chemicals from the curriculum, but many of them cannot be eliminated. |
A new type of photography table was designed and installed. Rather than vent the vapors up above the table and consequently across the student's face, the vapors are vented along the sides of the table and down and out of the room, thereby never coming near the student's face. |
Additional upgrades
- Drains in the floor were eliminated due to EPA regulations (to prevent toxic chemicals from going down the drain) and facilities staff was trained on HAZWOPER (OSHA hazardous spill training)
- A continuous eyewash station was placed in both Printmaking/Painting and Photography.
- RMCAD has developed stringent hazardous materials collection and disposal policies and procedures, and students are educated in how to properly dispose of these items.
- The entire 1st floor of the EPiC building has 100% fresh air exchange. Therefore fresh air is constantly being brought into the 1st floor and any toxins not captured by local exhaust ventilation are constantly being removed from the space.
With each of these approaches, RMCAD is laying the foundations of environmentally-responsible creative work for our future artists and designers.