3 Athletics Buildings Score LEED Platinum for Green Building Excellence
Three CU Boulder buildings that were part of the recent Athletics facilities upgrades, including the net-zero-energy Indoor Practice Facility, have been awarded LEED Platinum status by the United States Green Building Council.The 212,000-square-foot Champions Center, the 109,000-square-foot Indoor Practice Facility (IPF) and extensive renovations to the Dal Ward Athletic Center were all included in the Athletic Department project, which was completed in 2016. The latest LEED recognition brings to 25 the total number of CU Boulder buildings certified LEED Gold or better, including 10 LEED Platinum, either for new construction or major renovations.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally recognized symbol of excellence in green building, with certification ensuring electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthy work environments. There are four levels of certification, with Platinum being the highest.“Achieving LEED Platinum for a project of this magnitude is a testament to the work and collaboration of several campus departments and partners,” said CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Safety David Kang.
“Athletics has been a key driver of campus efforts to be a leader in sustainability, and this project is a shining example of that.”Construction of the Champions Center provided a new home for CU Athletics administration, the football program, Olympic sports, the CU Sports Medicine and Performance Center and the Champions Club. The climate-controlled IPF includes a full football field and a six-lane, 300-meter track that is utilized by nearly every sport. The Dal Ward upgrades, meanwhile, included locker rooms and a new weight room for CU Olympic Sports, new spaces for the Herbst Academic Center and the Touchdown Club Room. The Champions Center and Dal Ward construction also included the addition of a pair of premium seating areas at Folsom Field.
“These state-of-the-art facilities have proven transformational to the success of our Athletic Department,” said CU Boulder Athletic Director Rick George. “We’re proud that sustainability was at the forefront in the way they were built and how we use them every day.”