AUSTIN—The newest kid on the block for the Austin Community College (ACC) District, known as Highland Phase 2, has been recognized with LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its efforts to lessen waste and increase the campus’s energy efficiency.

As part of the award, the U.S. Green Building Council took note of Highland Phase 2’s use of recycled material and reusing 58 percent of the original structure that was previously on the site.  Other sustainable elements achieved at the site include 200kW solar panels, light-colored paving and roofing to refract as much heat as possible, as well as plumbing features that are meant to reduce wastefulness.

For Highland Phase 2 ACC chose Barnes Gromatzky Kosarek Architects (BGKA) as lead designers and architect of record.  That firm, based in Austin, worked with Perkins & Will, whose purview entailed both architecture work as well as consultation on interior designs.  Together the firms started out by assessing what material could be salvaged from the interior before the redesign commenced.

Another sustainability element at Highland Phase 2 is the chilled beam HVAC system, a recirculation system that uses water to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.  The slow-moving air makes the HVAC system easier to maintain, saves energy and also reduces background noise for music classes and recording taking place in the building.

Highland Phase 2 is the third campus within the ACC network to earn the designation of LEED Gold certification.  Three other campuses under the college’s umbrella have earned LEED Silver certification.

“ACC remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint and becoming a leader in sustainability efforts,” Andy Kim, ACC’s energy and sustainability director, said recently.  “LEED certification is internationally known.  I am proud of the work ACC continues to do to protect the environment and reduce costs through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water-saving efforts.”

The architectural design salvaged as many older materials as possible from the former mall’s storefront facades, including glass that was repurposed.

“The steel removed in the cutting out of the paseo was painted black to indicate that it was repurposed and was used within the mixing areas to frame special jewel boxes designed for student interaction,” BGKA said in a statement about its work at the campus.  “Additional items salvaged included a 1970’s neon camera sign that is at the entry to the new photography lab and the fiberglass larger-than-life banana split connected to the entry toward culinary arts.”

Austin Community College educates more than 70,000 students per year.  ACC, which currently diverts more than half of its landfill waste, aims to have no campus waste by 2040 and be entirely climate-neutral by 2050.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.—SchenkelShultz Architecture recently announced the completion of the innovative and sustainable Middle-High School at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainesville.

The public K-12 school is affiliated with the University of Florida’s College of Education and is a statewide leader in the development of innovative educational programs that create an optimized learning environment for every student.

The new, three-story academic building replaces the existing 60-year-old facility with a student-centered learning environment that is flexible, technology-rich, and provides opportunities for collaboration to occur everywhere. Each learning community includes STEM labs, open collaboration areas, learning studios, distance learning labs, teacher planning/collaboration, and small group break-out spaces.

“Our goal was to design a physical environment that was an embodiment of the school’s mission to ‘design, test and disseminate innovations in education,” said J. David Torbert, Partner, SchenkelShultz Architecture. “We collaborated closely with P.K Yonge’s Leadership Team, educators and students to create a new building that prioritizes active, participatory learning within a safe and secure environment.”  In recognition of its outstanding design, the project was recently awarded 1st Place in the Architectural Showcase presented by the Florida Education Facilities Planners’ Association (FEFPA).

The project was designed and built to achieve LEED® Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  Parrish McCall Constructors served as the Construction Manager for the project.

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CLEVELAND— The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) recently awarded LEED Gold certification to Cleveland State University’s Washkewicz Hall, home to the College of Engineering.

Completed in 2017, Washkewicz Hall is the sixth building on CSU’s campus to receive LEED certification.

“Washkewicz Hall’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. Cleveland State’s most recent certification is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.”

Sustainable features of Washkewicz Hall include the following:

• Site utilization that optimizes green space to reduce stormwater runoff;
• Low-flow toilets and faucets that reduce water consumption by 30 percent;
• Energy-efficient mechanical systems;
• 70 percent of electricity from renewable sources;
• 25 percent recycled steel in building materials;
• Light-colored roof material to reflect heat and maintain a cooler temperature within the building;
• Materials, paints, flooring and wall materials contain no- or low-VOCs for improved indoor air quality.

CBLH and Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED) led design and engineering on this approximately $46 million project. Gilbane was the construction manager at risk.

“[Throughout construction, we] used the building as a learning tool, involving students a faculty with regular tours and monthly bulletins about what work was transpiring,” explained Travis Okel, project manager, Gilbane Building Company.

“The team set out with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification, so knowing that the process of design and construction reached that ambitious target is very exciting,” said Jennifer McMillin, CSU director of sustainability, in a press release.

“As an institution of higher education, CSU has an opportunity to educate students about environmental sustainability both in the classroom and in the campus environment. Designing and operating green buildings is one of our opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to energy and water conservation.”

Other LEED certified buildings at CSU include Julka Hall (LEED Gold), Center for Innovation in Medical Professions (LEED Silver), Euclid Commons (LEED Silver), the CSU Student Center (LEED Silver) and the CSU Recreation Center (LEED Certified).

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NEW PALTZ, N.Y.—The new Engineering Innovation Hub (EIH) building at the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz has earned a coveted LEED Gold Certification award from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Urbahn Architects led the design team for this $13.5 million project, and the general contractor was PC Construction. The two-story, 19,500-square foot building houses the College’s relatively new and highly popular bachelor’s degree program in mechanical engineering and includes innovative teaching and research lab spaces, as well as the Hudson Valley Additive Manufacturing Center (HVAMC) at SUNY New Paltz.

The new EIH was made possible by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s NYSUNY2020 Challenge Grant competition, in which SUNY New Paltz was awarded $10 million to support academic programs that translate directly into economic development in New York State. The College also received $1 million through the Governor’s Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council’s annual Consolidated Funding Application.

“The Engineering Innovation Hub houses industry-leading equipment to support our students and faculty as well as the work of companies partnering with the College through 3D design and printing,” said SUNY New Paltz President Donald P. Christian. “We thank the Governor and his team for recognizing the value of this project, and our Facilities staff and external partners for working hard to achieve this well-earned LEED Gold distinction.”

SUNY New Paltz initially placed a goal of LEED Silver for the building design. According to Natale V. Barranco, AIA, LEEP AP, Urbahn Architects Principal-in-Charge, “The design of this project to meet LEED criteria was a challenge, because the construction budget was relatively modest. However, every step of the project, from preliminary design through construction, was made with the goal of achieving the highest LEED rating possible in mind, and we were able to meet the criteria for Gold certification through a collaborative effort with the entire project team.”

“The important lesson learned from this project is that an efficient, sustainable building can be designed within the confines of a limited budget,” adds Urbahn Architects’ Senior Associate Nandini Sengupta, LEEP AP. “Bring in seasoned design consultants early in the conceptual phase, and perform continuous energy modeling starting in the conceptual design phase,” she advises designers and owners. “For this project, the client, design team, construction manager, and contractor were all very methodical from the beginning to enable the building to achieve a high LEED rating. The final building envelope and mechanical systems designs have resulted in an energy cost savings of 28%.”

The EIH is centrally located within SUNY New Paltz’s campus, near the existing Resnick Engineering Hall. The building supports the College’s mechanical engineering program that has seen rapid enrollment growth since its 2014 launch, as well as the HVAMC, described below. Urbahn designed the EIH to allow for a potential expansion of the building to accommodate this academic programming and support collaboration between the College and local industry. The hub directly addresses the region’s need for talented engineers and prepares students to thrive in forward-looking careers.

The Hudson Valley Additive Manufacturing Center (HVAMC), which has been providing education, guidance, CAD design, advice on materials used for additive manufacturing, and 3D printing services to SUNY New Paltz students and educators as well as to entrepreneurs and businesses since 2013, operates a laboratory and offices in the new building. The HVAMC’s collection of 3D printers constitutes some of the most advanced technology at any academic laboratory in the United States. The College is the first institution of higher education in the nation to be designated a Stratasys-MakerBot Additive Research & Teaching or SMART lab by Stratasys, the world’s leading 3D printing hardware and systems company.

The Hub’s project team also includes mechanical and electrical engineer Vanderweil Engineers, plumbing engineer CSA Group, structural engineer Leslie E. Robertson Associates (LERA), LEED consultant YR&G, civil engineer BET Engineering Consultants, landscape designer Edgewater Design, lighting designer Lumen Architecture, and cost estimator Ellana, Inc.

The design of a 31,200-square foot landscaped site contributes to the project’s sustainability. The project team addressed the LEED category of Sustainable Sites and Water Efficiency in several innovative ways. The entire building site was formerly covered by a parking lot and the new site plan was developed to maximize the open green area surrounding the building footprint.

Landscaped bioswales direct rainwater into a 45-foot long retention pond that is provided with a weir and overflow gate to control discharge. Ground water under the building footprint is also drawn into the pond through underground perforated pipe, preventing a rise in hydrostatic pressure that could potentially drive moisture into the building. Large boulders recovered from the site during excavation were reused around the bioswale to provide landscape interest. The bioswale has been planted with native evergreen shrubs, eco mix seed, and grasses.

In addition to the landscape design, LEED points were also awarded for several features of the building and its location. The building’s roof is a white reflective TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) membrane system, with added insulation to improve the R-value. This composition reduces the heat island effect by providing a high solar reflectance index. The building is close to public transportation stops and provides bicycle storage to decrease reliance on private fossil fuel vehicles.

Urbahn placed particular emphasis on maximizing daylighting and views throughout the building without compromising energy efficiency. “EIH’s ground floor lobby is wrapped in a glass storefront and glazed curtain wall systems to allow natural light into the interiors. The lobby serves as a collaborative study and social space with extensive writable surfaces, where students can collaborate outside the classroom setting,” says Urbahn’s project manager Arielle Siegel Lapp. “Window headers are located nine feet above the floor so that light can penetrate deep into interior spaces. Our team analyzed several glazing options to maximize the energy efficiency of the exterior walls, and ultimately designed window assemblies using double glazed low-E glass that provide ideal comfort levels, daylighting, and views while utilizing less than 30% of the exterior wall surface. All regularly occupied spaces have line of sight views of the campus,” she adds.

Lighting is provided by high efficiency LED fixtures, some featuring a ring like curvilinear configuration, provided with light sensor controls. As the building fills with natural light flooding through the high windows during the day, light fixtures automatically shut off to conserve energy, and turn on again as exterior lighting conditions change with nightfall.

Vanderweil Engineers performed energy modeling throughout the design phase to optimize the performance of the HVAC systems. They worked within the limited budget to select mechanical components that would meet the LEED criteria. Heating and cooling are provided by a custom Nortek Ventrol air handling unit with Fanwall technology, 30,000 cfm, 890,000 BTU. The cooling tower is Carrier 30RB080 unit with 80 ton capacity. Additional equipment was manufactured by Mitsubishi and Nailor, and BMS is provided by Siemens. The designers chose HVAC and fire suppression systems that minimized ozone depleting chemicals.

The use of water saving plumbing fixtures has resulted in a 31% reduction in the consumption of potable water.

The project plays a continuing part in the education of the students who are the ultimate building occupants. During planning and construction, engineering students toured the site and sat in on team meetings to learn how to plan and maintain an energy efficient facility.

According to Urbahn Architects’ Construction Administrator Manuel Mateus, “When selecting building materials, the design team considered several factors, including local sourcing, recycled content, and performance values. The exterior walls feature an ultra-high-performance energy efficient rain-screen system that minimizes heat loss by eliminating thermal bridging. The system face consists of concrete panels by Taktl in both a light gray smooth finish and a dark gray textured finish. Each panel has ColorSeal and MicroSeal coatings to help with color and water resilience for extended durability. The rain screen is anchored to a stud backup, and the assembly provides a balance of pressure behind the wall that inhibits water infiltration into the building interior.”

The red soffit above the main entrance is composed of Vitrabong 4mm FR lightweight metal composite material (MCM) cladding panels in Rubis Red color. Vitrabond panels are composed of a 3mm fire retardant (FR) Core, 0.5mm aluminum skin, and polyester anti-corrosion coating.

The ultra high-performance exterior wall panels are by Taktl. The dark gray panels are in the “Grey Reed” color and the light-colored ones are in “Platinum Smooth”. Each has ColorSeal and MicroSeal coatings to help with color and water resilience for extended durability.

Flooring consists of polished concrete, carpet, vinyl composition tile (VCT), and glazed ceramic tile, all of which contains recycled content. The concrete mix used for flooring and foundations was locally sourced. Ceilings in the labs and the lecture room are fully exposed, reducing the need for standard acoustic tile systems. All materials were required to have low-VOC emissions.

Collaborative spaces throughout the building feature expanses of the university’s colors – blue and orange – as well as wood soffits and acoustical cloud ceilings to add warmth and texture to the spaces.

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Green construction techniques are valuable tools for creating healthy learning environments that benefit both students and teachers. Around the country, municipalities are making green certification for schools less of an option and more of a given as they adopt new requirements.

Take Chicago, for example. Every school in the city must earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This commitment to green construction in educational facilities is a trend that shows no sign of stopping. More cities are adopting these requirements every day.

In this kind of environment, any construction company that wants to continue winning bids for educational facilities needs to be able to keep up. So, if contractors aren’t adept at managing the LEED — or other green certification — process, it puts them at a competitive disadvantage. As these standards become more prevalent, contractors must be prepared to manage green certification requirements or they might not be winning jobs at all.

Better Learning Environments

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)’s LEED certification for schools is, at heart, focused as much on student health and performance as it is on energy efficiency. According to the USGBC, a green school creates a healthy environment that is conducive to learning while saving energy, resources and money.

LEED certification ensures school designers are specifying and incorporating products that are healthy and are not releasing chemicals that are going to affect the respiratory systems of students. Green construction techniques help contractors build learning environments that are safe, comfortable and healthy while requiring less energy and upkeep.

Green schools have been shown to lead to healthier students and better test scores. In “Linking Performance & Experience: An Analysis of Green Schools,” researchers surveyed teachers and administrators at 12 green schools about the effects of the environment on student health and performance:

• 87% of respondents reported a positive impact on student health.
• 71% of respondents perceived a positive effect on student achievement.
• 71% reported a positive effect on student behavior.
• 85% reported their own health and productivity were positively affected.

Managing the Process

Successfully achieving LEED certification can be challenging, but it’s far from impossible. Project teams have to approach the process deliberately and with the proper attention to detail. Here are some thoughts to consider to make the certification easier and more manageable:

1. Do your research: When it comes to seeking LEED certification, the first step for project teams is doing your homework. The USGBC provides extensive reference guides and documentation to help teams understand each credit and requirement.
2. Set goals: If pursuing LEED certification, project managers and other stakeholders have to start out with a clear vision and plan for using green materials and construction techniques — not trying to figure out how to meet the requirements months or years down the road.
3. Keep detailed records: When pursuing LEED certification, proper documentation is king. Without having a system in place to facilitate day-to-day tracking and recording of materials and processes used, project managers set themselves up for failure. The last thing anyone wants to do is to try to recreate a paper trail for a project that has stretched out over several years.
4. Find better tools: A major drawback to pursuing LEED certification is the time-intensive, extensive documentation process. Look for software tools that can help streamline and automate documentation.

Summing It Up

As municipalities continue to embrace the use of LEED and other green certifications in public school projects, contractors have to stay up-to-speed on the requirements and the necessary documentation processes.

Healthy, safe environments mean greater student success, but, in the end, the use of green construction benefits everyone — the school districts that operate educational facilities as well as the students and teachers who use them on a daily basis.

Tommy Linstroth is founder and CEO of Green Badger, a cloud-based solution for equipping project teams of all levels of experience with the tools they need to document LEED as efficiently as possible.

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SANTA ROSA, Calif.—Sonoma Academy’s Janet Durgin Guild and Commons was recently awarded LEED Platinum, the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest green building rating. The $17 million project—at the private co-ed college preparatory high school—has also been recognized for its low carbon footprint and material transparency.

Designed by architecture and planning firm, WRNS Studio, the two-story, 19,500-square-foot nature-inspired building houses the school’s student and education center — a hybrid maker space, student dining with an all-electric commercial kitchen, and indoor/outdoor learning facility.

This project showcases how architecture can make nature part of the classroom experience while meeting strict sustainability and energy efficiency objectives. Focused on health and regional considerations, the project is also targeting WELL Education Pilot and LBC Material and Energy Petals— certifications expected later this year.
“Rooted in a culture committed to sustainability, Sonoma Academy’s decision to embrace multiple rigorous benchmarks, demonstrates how they lead by example, working to understand and transform the wider market towards a more sustainable future,” explained WRNS Studio Partner and Sustainability Director Pauline Souza.

“We are excited to achieve this level of certification, and are grateful to our engineering and construction partners who helped us reach this target.”

Sited on a 34-acre campus at the base of Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa, the Y-shaped, steel-glass-and-wood structure employed several creative design and engineering solutions to lessen its carbon footprint and establish a safe, healthy environment for students to learn.

Leading with biophilia, the building integrates active and passive systems allowing for a ZNE approach that decreases high-energy-component demand by 75+%. To reduce operational energy consumption, the building is 80% naturally lit, wrapped with operable windows and coiling doors for natural ventilation, and has high-performing, low-e glazing. Deep overhangs provide shade and shelter from the elements. Adjustable exterior sunshades and moveable screens tune for user-comfort and curb heat gain.

In more extreme months, heating and cooling is through geoexchange and radiant systems. These efficient methods drive down energy use and reduce water demand compared to traditional HVAC systems. Other energy saving strategies include a photovoltaic rooftop array, a living roof that helps insulate and keeps the PV’s undersides cool, naturally heat-regulating earth block, an all-electric kitchen with induction cooktops which reduces energy consumption while idling, and a waste water management system that accounts for 88% of the building’s total non-potable water demand.

To ensure a space that promotes well-being, a reductive, low-VOC material palette was the foundation for the project. With an emphasis on health and transparency, material selection was guided by LBC Materials Petal, and in compliance with ILFI’s Red List imperative and CDPH.

RHAA Landscape Architects was the landscape and garden architect on this impressive project. The contractor was XL Construction.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—To promote discussion and transparency about evolving green initiatives, building technology company arbnco and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently hosted a series of roundtable discussions with building and energy executives. The event included attendees from companies such as Schneider Electric, Mace, and MetLife Investment Management. The findings of these discussions are featured in arbnco’s just released 2020 Challenges of the Built Environment report. A vital point of the report centers around the importance of energy programs that touch upon the human experience, rather than too large a focus on energy and cost savings.

“There are many barriers to overcome to effectively manage energy use and human experience including a lack of data, incentivizing feedback, as well as determining the best way to quantify the human experience,” said arbnco Chief Product Officer Brian Van Buskirk. “There has also been a dramatic increase in the amount of options building managers now have, which makes it difficult to select the right technology for customer needs. There needs to be a roadmap to choosing the right technology. These discussions further highlighted these barriers, and shone a light on the need for more streamlined solutions, collaboration and continued innovation and conversation.”

Gathering human experience data has long been lacking in the building optimization industry because programs often overlook occupant feedback and wellness when determining building performance. But with increased digitization services, it is now easier to collect this data. However, there is a common concern about ensuring occupants are motivated to care about their building health and experience and share their feedback.

Another theme of the report highlights the importance of real-time data usage rather than following regulation and compliance. The recurring topic was echoed by Paul D’Alto, Managing Architect at MetLife Investment Management, who stated, “PropTech is exploding, but how do you find the right technology that works for you? Finding the correct data has to be a personal experience, but there are currently challenges to get there.”

One method discussed to invigorate occupant participation, as well as customized solutions, is through involvement in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), arc scoring, and monitoring data. With these methods, managers move past regulations and make adjustments to fit their occupants and building needs. While regulation and compliance are essential, the ability to monitor trends in real-time allows a more personalized approach to building management.

The report also provides more insight from key executives on the opportunities and roadblocks to more sustainable smart buildings. As technology evolves, arbnco will continue to hold discussions with key industry leaders to uncover ways to improve and innovate programs both in the US and UK.

arbnco is a pioneering software simulation company that partners with leading research bodies to develop and deliver scalable, global, and disruptive software solutions to the world’s largest commercial real estate owners and managers.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—During this global pandemic, we know that parents and educators working from home are trying to keep school-age children on track, using an enriched curriculum, and out of harm’s way. We commend your efforts and want to support you.

USGBC’s Learning Lab online education platform offers lessons and activities that are well suited for distance learning, and many that are ideal for implementing at home, while being academically rigorous and fostering sustainability literacy. Additionally, many Learning Lab Partners have mobilized to provide training and experiences that can help educators and parents succeed for the sake of students.

All Learning Lab lessons are aligned to standards, support hands-on learning and come with guidance for implementation.

Check out our recommended resources for K–12 educators and parents. Listed below are the lessons we have made available for free—simply log in with your existing Learning Lab or USGBC account or create one. Purchase an annual subscription for $40 to access Learning Lab’s 700+ lessons in English and Spanish.

Click here to review the Learning Lab offerings from the Center for Green Schools.

Jenny Wiedower leads the Center for Green Schools’ efforts to support teaching and learning as a key component of any green school. As K-12 Education Manager, she leads the development of USGBC’s K-12 education platform, Learning Lab.

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PISCATAWAY, N.J.—Completed in August 2018, the Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering at Rutgers University on the Busch campus, has recently received LEED Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The 106,000-square-foot, four-story facility offers a state-of-the-art learning and research spaces designed to bring students, faculty and industry together to pursue new solutions and technologies in the areas of sustainability, energy, and advanced manufacturing.

“This building demonstrates the University’s commitment to sustainability and will serve as a benchmark for future projects. The School of Engineering has a modern facility that promotes the building as a working lab, actively engaging students in discovering innovative solutions that will transform the field of engineering and manufacturing on a local and global scale,” says Gregg Bergmiller, LEED AP, a sustainability coordinator of The S/L/A/M Collaborative.

This recognition acknowledges the many sustainable design features that are incorporated into Weeks Hall’s innovative learning environment, including: Energy cost savings of 29% through solar orientation and superior envelop design; Mechanical systems include active chilled beams, ventilation with 100% outdoor air with energy recovery wheel and demand control by occupancy and carbon dioxide sensors; Energy efficient LED lighting with automatic lighting control utilizing daylight photo and occupancy sensors; A 38% reduction of potable water use; The diversion of 97% of construction waste from landfills.

Weeks Hall of Engineering is an open and flexible facility that features flexible learning laboratories for advanced manufacturing and sustainable resources and systems. The students have hands-on access to facilities dedicated to rapid prototyping, pilot manufacturing, urban and coastal water systems, intelligent transportation systems, and more. The building includes three smart classrooms, collaborative workspace, dedicated student space, and advanced technology integration.

The New Jersey Advanced Manufacturing Institute (NJAMI), established by Rutgers, also has dedicated space in the facility to distinguish and elevate the state’s historic manufacturing profile. Students have the resources to develop and test innovative devices in areas of information technology, renewable energy, sensing devices, and health life sciences.

The S/L/A/M Collaborative (SLAM) is a national, fully integrated, multi-disciplinary architecture firm offering architecture, planning, interior design, landscape architecture and site planning, structural engineering and construction services that focuses on higher education, K-12 public/private education, healthcare and corporate market, athletic and recreation sectors.

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ATLANTA — The Emory University Hospital Tower has been awarded LEED Silver certification (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first Emory Healthcare building to be LEED certified at Emory.

Known as the most widely used green building rating system in the world, LEED provides the framework to create healthy, highly-efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of achievement of sustainability.

The $400 million, 450,000-square-foot Emory University Hospital Tower, located at 1364 Clifton Road across from the current hospital, opened for patient care in the summer of 2017. The building meets high standards for air quality, energy efficiency and for using locally sourced materials. Its sustainable, inspirational and collaborative environment promotes healthy lifestyles, learning and community.

“Achieving LEED Silver certification is a testament to the hard work and dedication by our planning, design, architectural and construction teams in supporting sustainability,” says Bryce Gartland, MD, CEO of Emory University Hospital and Hospital Group President for Emory Healthcare. “This building saves on energy, water, and other resources while supporting human health, which creates a positive environment for all of those who work and receive care in this space.”

Buildings pursuing LEED certification earn points across several categories such as location and transportation, water efficiency, sustainability, materials and resources, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, innovation and more. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then earns one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

Key elements in the design and construction of the Emory University Hospital Tower include the following sustainable features:

• Project site located in close proximity to basic services such as restaurants, stores and public transit to encourage building occupants to walk instead of drive
• Low-flow indoor water fixtures reduce water consumption by an estimated 20 percent
• Energy-efficient exterior glazing systems allow for daylight to reach core areas throughout the building
• Materials used contain recycled and regionally manufactured content
• Energy-efficient features that allow for more than 20 percent energy savings
• Over 95 percent of construction waste recycled
• Special focus on indoor environmental quality for improving occupant health and well-being of employees
• Lead- and mercury-free facility
• Recycling program implemented

Since the recycling program began at the Emory University Hospital Tower, an average of nearly 30,000 pounds of cardboard and white paper are being recycled each month. The hospital’s Environmental Services team is responsible for collecting the recyclable material and taking it to a designated bin for pick-up.

“LEED Silver certification places Emory Healthcare and the Emory University Hospital Tower in a category above many others when it comes to design and building construction for hospitals,” said David Pugh, vice president for facility and space design for Emory Healthcare. “We are excited to receive this recognition and know it signifies Emory Healthcare’s commitment to green building design now and in the future.”

With a strong focus on sustainability, Emory University now has 34 LEED certified buildings that equal more than 4 million square feet. These buildings include: Candler Library, Candler School of Theology Phase I and Phase II, Claudia Nance Rollins Building, Emory Conference Center Addition, Health Sciences Research building, and James B. Williams Medical Education building.

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