Centennial Hall joins three other UCCS buildings as a recipient of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification at the gold level.
Technically, the renovated UCCS science building is in a category for commercial interiors while the Osborn Center for Science and Engineering, the Gallogly Events Center, and the UCCS Recreation Center were rated as new construction. As of Feb. 2012, UCCS can boast four buildings the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system certifies as gold, for energy and water conservation, sustainability, and efficiency.
Linda Kogan, director, Office of Sustainability said the LEED gold certifications are a source of pride for UCCS, showing the campus’ commitment to green infrastructure.
Emphasizing the university’s commitment to sustainability, Brian Burnett, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, acknowledged that three more planned UCCS construction projects are being designed to earn LEED gold certification. Two new housing units in Summit Village and the Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences will be constructed to meet the gold standard, he said.
Centennial Hall opened Aug. 19, 2010, after a year of construction activity at a cost of $17 million. The renovated building features improved labs, classrooms, offices, auditorium and an amphitheater and demonstration garden. Architects, technicians and workmen orchestrated those renovations with emphasis on conserving resources and achieving sustainability.
Building materials used for the project included recycled materials. Most of the construction waste was recycled instead of dumped in a landfill. New wood came from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council which is dedicated to replanting and ensuring trees for the future. Window treatments utilized technology and glass suited to reduce glare and the impact of outside temperatures. The project included using low volatile organic compound paints, adhesives and sealants, as well as plumbing fixtures designed to use less water.
Kogan said such details have to be considered for long-term efficiency and sustainability. She said energy usage is an important factor and cited the photovoltaic system on the roof that uses solar energy to provide about three percent of the building’s electricity. She added that UCCS has purchased 318,960 kilowatt hours of renewable energy credits from Renewable Choice Energy, representing about half of Centennial Hall’s electricity use for two years. The purchase of wind-generated electricity will reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
“UCCS has demonstrated a strong commitment to green infrastructure with the completion of its fourth LEED building,” said Kogan. “The most important accomplishment, however, is achieved when each member of the campus community understands the features of sustainable building and can translate those into actions within their own homes.”
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