By Susan Gager

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Corvallis was recently named one of the most energy smart cities, now OSU is following suit by building a green residence hall with a host of sustainable features.

In an effort to house a rapidly growing number of international students, Oregon State University has crews laying the groundwork on a new green-friendly hall.

Thanks to a contract with an International Student Recruiting Program last year, the international student population is expected to explode. They welcomed 100 new international students since last fall.

"And over the next four to five years we hope to get it up to 5 or 600," said Brian Thornsness of OSU Director of Business Services.

Oregon State University says its their way of jumping into a rapidly globalizing world community.

"You know it isn't just in Oregon. It isn't just in the Pacific Northwest. Our reach is across the United States and around the world," said Thornsness.

The business director is excited to welcome new ideas from other countries. But he also says an important goal with the new building is sustainability. They're looking to achieve a high rating in energy and environmental design similar to this hall, home to civil engineering students.

The new five-story building will utilize a host of sustainable features such as high efficiency heating and lighting. They are also finding new ways to remove homes in the way of construction that don't involve a bulldozer.

"We relocate them off campus so we don't demolish them, so it's been a long time since OSU has ever had to demolish a building," said Thornsness.

Oregon State University plans to deconstruct remaining homes by recycling and reusing salvaged material left over. The groundwork has just begun and the director hopes to have the building open by September of 2011.

When complete Oregon State University says the hall will be the home and an educational center to seventy percent of the booming international student population.