The University Memorial Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder has proven to be more than just a place where students relax, dine and socialize -- it is one of the greenest buildings on campus.
The UMC's new addition was awarded LEED Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system for Existing Buildings, or LEED-EB, on June 19. The UMC is the first building on the Boulder campus to receive LEED certification and the second building in Colorado to receive the prestigious honor under the LEED-EB system. A ceremony will be held at the building at noon on Sept. 7.
Completed in 2002, the UMC's expansion and renovation project added roughly 50,000 square feet of new space and renovated 136,000 square feet of existing area.
"We're very pleased and honored that the UMC is CU's first LEED-certified building," said UMC Director Carlos Garcia. "Environmentally sustainable design was a goal of the UMC expansion and renovation project from the beginning. It is wonderful to see this goal recognized with the U.S. Green Building Council's certification.
"As the center of student life on campus, we're especially proud that our building reflects the 'green' values and environmental concerns of CU students," said Garcia. "The UMC expansion and renovation project, completed in 2002, was a pilot for sustainable building on campus. It's rewarding to see the efforts of so many dedicated students and staff pay off through the recognition of the Silver LEED rating."
Through an analysis of system processes and the use of environmentally friendly materials, the UMC worked with the CU Environmental Center and the Rocky Mountain Institute to improve maintenance procedures while preserving the safe, comfortable and inviting nature of the building. RMI's ENSAR Built Environment Team assisted with the initial design of the addition and recently provided assistance to the CU Environmental Center in the LEED certification process.
As the first LEED-EB project at CU, the UMC will serve as a model for future CU-Boulder building renovations and other universities seeking to promote sustainability in the remodeling process.
The UMC's key sustainability achievements include:
o An EPA Energy Star score of 91 out of 100 denoting the highest standard of energy efficiency compared to similar buildings
o Powered by 100 percent renewable wind energy
o Use of recycled and sustainable materials in the building process, including bamboo flooring and workstations made of 98 percent recycled content
o An estimated 89 percent recycling diversion rate
o Daylighting through strategic window placement and a bright, spacious atrium
o Extensive use of compact fluorescent light bulbs
o Access to 18 bus lines connecting students and employees to the greater Boulder/Denver metro area
o Use of nontoxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products
o Native flora used in the surrounding landscape.
For more information about the UMC visit umc.colorado.edu/home/ .