Green building trend: College fitness centers

Photos by UMaine

Yesterday I detailed how a few large sports arenas have gone green – the Vancouver Olympic Village, Philips Arena in Atlanta, and the Showare Center in Kent, Washington.  In my research, I discovered that several college fitness centers have gotten the jump on these major arenas.  

 

In 2006, Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus Fitness Center received LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC) Silver certification.  The facility scored 33/69 points; a few of the features that gained points for the project include the use of water efficient landscaping, using renewable energy and green power, low VOC products, and a LEED Accredited Professional worked on the project.

 

The Longwood University Health & Fitness Center received LEED-NC Gold certification in February 2008.  The facility scored 39/69 points, just squeaking in to the Gold certification level.  Although the award was received in February, the University waited until Earth Day 2008 for its celebration.  The Health & Fitness Center is just part of Longwood’s Green Campus initiative and was featured on the Education Design Showcase website as the 2008 Green Judges’ Choice Winner.

 

In April 2008, the UMaine Rec & Fitness Center received LEED-NC Silver certification.  The project scored 34/69 points; Silver certification is awarded to projects that earn between 33 and 38 points.  The 87,000 square foot, $25 million project has a pool, training rooms, racquetball courts, a weight room, an indoor track and much more.

 

College campuses across the nation are embracing the green building trend.  The students that get to experience these certified green facilities may just go on to set the green building trends of the future.