General Classroom Building Earns LEED Platinum Rating
Release Date: April 09, 2018
CSU-PUEBLO CLASSROOM BUILDING EARNS LEED PLATINUM CERTIFICATION
PUEBLO – Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo) and Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) have announced that the General Classroom Building on the CSU-Pueblo campus has received LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED Platinum certification is a globally recognized symbol of the highest achievement in sustainability. State-funded higher education buildings are required to be designed and built to LEED Gold standard. The General Classroom Building at CSU-Pueblo exceeds that minimum standard with its LEED Platinum certification.
“It is gratifying to see our sustainability efforts recognized, particularly during Earth Month,” said CSU-Pueblo President Timothy Mottet. “With this construction, we sought to meet the needs of our students, while also bringing awareness to Earth-friendly practices.”
The 40,000-gross-square-foot General Classroom Building opened in the fall of 2015 and was designed by Hord Coplan Macht and built by GH Phipps. The building was designed and constructed to save 35 percent more energy cost than a building just designed to code. More than 80 percent of the construction materials were recycled on the job site and flooring, drywall, and ceiling tiles in the building all include recycled content. Water saving plumbing fixtures were installed and indoor water use was reduced by 38 percent compared to a similar building designed to code. The existing campus solar array provides approximately 15 percent of the building’s electricity.
“The highest available level of LEED certification was obtained because of the University's commitment to environmental stewardship and a dedicated design and construction team,” said Ara Massey, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, director of sustainability, Hord Coplan Macht.
CSU-Pueblo has demonstrated leadership in energy and environmental design on campus with the Library and Academic Resource Building earning LEED Platinum certification in 2013, the General Classroom Building receiving a LEED Platinum rating in 2018, and the renovation of the Occhiato University Center slated to earn LEED Gold certification within the year.
About Colorado State University-Pueblo
Colorado State University-Pueblo is committed to excellence, setting the standard for regional comprehensive universities in teaching, research, and service by providing leadership and access for its region, while maintaining its commitment to diversity.
About Hord Coplan Macht
Hord Coplan Macht is an architecture, landscape architecture, planning and interior design firm. Specializing in healthcare, education, mixed-use, parks, office and institutional facilities, the firm has offices in Baltimore, MD, Alexandria, VA, and Denver, CO. For more information, visit www.hcm2.com.
