BOULDER, Colo. — The Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE), which opened in the heart of the University of Colorado Boulder’s main campus last summer, has been awarded LEED Gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 114,000-square-foot CASE building serves as a new gateway to the campus that supports the academic and student experience from the time prospective students first visit campus through their time at CU Boulder, to graduation and beyond. The latest recognition brings the total number of CU Boulder buildings with LEED certification to 27, either for new construction or major renovations.

“Earning LEED certification for such a prominent building on our campus is exciting as it helps place our commitment to sustainable and efficient building practices front and center in the CU Boulder landscape,” said David Kang, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability.

Noresco provided sustainability consulting services to CU Boulder to ensure that sustainability goals of the CASE project were achieved. Oz Architecture and Bora Architects led design of the building, while GH Phipps Construction Cos., served as general contractor.

Sustainability was woven into systems throughout the CASE building. One of the most prominent features is the electrochromic glass installed at the top-level terraces. The glazing on these south-facing windows self-dims as sun exposure increases, minimizing heat gain and glare while highlighting the breathtaking views of the Flatirons mountains beyond. Also significant was construction of the building atop an existing parking garage, avoiding consumption of green space and actually introducing new sources of vegetation to the site on the north-facing slope.

Other sustainability highlights that bolstered the CASE building’s LEED score include:

• LED lighting throughout that contributes to 32 percent energy savings versus a baseline office and classroom building

• Low-flow plumbing features to conserve water, contributing to a 40 percent reduction in indoor water use versus a baseline office and classroom building

• 67 percent of construction waste diverted from landfills

• HVAC and envelope designed to provide a comfortable thermal environment to promote occupant productivity and well-being

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The nearly 109,000-square-foot student hub is situated in an area adjacent to the main campus known as the Williams Village Neighborhood and houses a number of services and features including a state-of-the-art dining center showcasing local and regional foods, the late-night Grotto Café, and indoor and outdoor seating. Students can even climb onto a special bike designed to blend a custom smoothie as they pedal. Non-dining features include a large, divisible multipurpose room with separate break out space, a tutoring office suite, study and lounge areas and the new Wardenburg Health Center Annex. A new UPS store and 3,000-square-foot green house will be ready later this fall. The building is also aiming for LEED certification.

“Based on student feedback from a few years ago coupled with our own vision and desire to provide top-notch services to our students, we have built a facility that we think students will be very pleased with on both an academic and social level,” Amy Beckstrom, executive director of Housing & Dining Services, told local NBC affiliate 9News.

KSQ Architects’ Denver office designed the new facility, which offers views of the iconic Flatiron Mountains just outside of the city. KSQ Architects described the Williams Village Neighborhood prior to the project as a tight-knit community lacking a modern dining facility, student service spaces or places for students claim as their own, according to the firm’s website.

The Williams Village Neighborhood is also home to two modern residential towers. The towers provide an interesting contrast to the main campus, which features Tuscan-inspired designs developed nearly a century ago by architect Charles Klauder. The KSQ team developed the new brick and glass Village Center to complement both the main campus aesthetic and the more contemporary residential towers.

Colorado Springs, Colo.-headquartered GE Johnson served as the project’s general contractor. The project team also included a number of Denver-based firms including ArtHouse Design, Shen Milsom & Wilke, Wenk Associates and Group 14. Other local firms included Martin/Martin and Cator Ruma & Associates, both of Lakewood, and Rimrock Technology also of Colorado Springs.

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