ASU LEEDs the way at USGBC Arizona chapter awards event

Arizona State University received four LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) awards from the Arizona chapter of the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) for the outstanding design, planning and construction of its campus buildings. The 2014 Heavy Medals awards luncheon was held Feb. 12 at the Phoenix Convention Center West in downtown Phoenix.

The Arizona chapter is the USGBC’s third largest in the nation and consists of three branches: central, northern and Sonoran.

Between April 1, 2013 and Aug. 30, 2014, the USGBC awarded 259 LEED certifications to projects throughout Arizona. Only 40 building projects received Heavy Medal awards. There are 10 Heavy Medal award categories, including: LEED for schools, (K-12); retail; education; and institutional and health care.

For building projects completed during the April 2013 through the August 2014 time frame, ASU received four Heavy Medal awards: three in the education category and one in institutional and health care category:

• ASU Health Service Renovation – Tempe campus LEED Platinum certification
• The Sun Devil Fitness Complex – Polytechnic LEED Gold certification
• The Sun Devil Fitness Complex – West campus LEED Gold certification
• Verde Dining Pavilion – West campus LEED Gold certification

“Winning these awards in the Platinum and Gold certification categories demonstrates ASU’s dedication and commitment to incorporating many sustainable models – such as water and energy conservation – and the reduction of landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions in our buildings, both in existing structures and new builds,” said Ed Soltero, ASU assistant vice president and university architect.

The ASU Health Service Renovation is the second ASU building to receive a LEED Platinum certification. The university achieved the state’s first LEED Platinum certification in 2007 for the Biodesign Building B on the ASU Tempe campus. As of November 2014, ASU has 42 LEED-certified buildings, two Platinum, 26 Gold, 13 Silver and one certified.

“LEED Silver certification is our minimum target for all new construction across all four ASU campuses,” Soltero added.

According to Bruce Nevel, associate vice president of ASU Facilities Development and Management, the buildings for which these awards were given all affect ASU students and their quality of life.

“Our principal and overriding goal at ASU is our commitment to our students; not only while they are here in providing a healthier environment, but as they move to the next steps in their life after graduation,” Nevel said. “We are equally committed to preparing our students for the emerging green market, including future architects, project managers, researchers in future technologies and future employment.”

Michele Peters, 480-965-1748
ASU Facilities Development and Management