It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane – it’s a crane.

The structures poking above the trees along Loop 10 are helping piece together the new residence hall at East Campus.

Although it’s near East Campus Village dorms, the hall will be a part of the Reed Community. Building 1516 will open fall 2010 and feature double and single rooms, temperature-controlled spaces and private bathrooms for non-freshman undergraduates.

“We had an over-demand for rooms, and we know this won’t solve all the problems, but it’ll help,” said Gerard Kowalski, director for Housing. The overall project costs about $47 million to construct.

The amenities sound just like Reed Hall, only a bit bigger and nicer – nine-month contracts, closed for University breaks (Thanksgiving, winter break and spring break), carpeted rooms, loftable twin beds, laundry and kitchen facilities, a computer lab, lounges and study rooms, a 24-hour staffed front desk, and a large room equipped with technology for programs and events.

The building is five floors, plus an attic (like Reed), which features student rooms. Administrative offices will take up part of the first floor. It’s a large building on a small strip of space.

“It’s tall. It’ll be hard not to see it from the Loop,” Kowalski said.

Despite its size, officials hope the dorm will be the most efficient on campus.

The new hall will be the first LEED certified University building. Although the Housing department hasn’t yet picked a specific level under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, Kowalski said they’ll “shoot for the highest level financially and practically.”

Some sustainable efforts include ENERGY STAR products, environmentally-friendly carpet that nets zero greenhouse gas emissions, certified wood from a “well-managed forest,” energy-wise windows and shingles, high insulation, drought-tolerant landscaping, rainwater catchment system for water recycling, bioretention systems to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff and a graywater system – recycles water from showers, sinks and washing machines – to flush toilets.

“We applaud the efforts they’re making to save energy. It makes us very happy,” said Ken Crowe, energy services director for the Physical Plant. “This should be the most energy-efficient residence hall on the campus when this is all said and done.”

Crowe said the dorms use about $2 per square foot to operate each year, but he expects the new dorm to use less.

“They’re using a new type of chiller that we don’t have on campus, so we’re very interested to see how that operates,” he said. “We’re interested in the technology, and it’s a good place to give us an idea of what could be implemented in non-housing buildings.”

Construction began in May and students should move in by next August. Housing will build a prototype of one of the rooms in the Brumby Hall lobby during Christmas break, and students can visit the room to experience it throughout January.