- Sielder Hall
- The first building to receive LEED certification
- All major projects have a goal to be LEED certified. The most recent building up for review for certification is The Boardwalk, which was completed in January 2018. It can take months for a building to receive a LEED certification. The reasoning behind this is thorough examination of receipts from contractors and architects from all stages of the project. This is to ensure that all aspects of the project fall in line with LEED protocol. (T. Mayo, personal communication)
- Fun Fact:
- LEED buildings are only 4-5% more expensive to construct, on average, compared to a similar building of the same time. (T. Mayo 2018)
- LEED requires you to pay a review fee and a registration fee.
- What is LEED?
- LEED is a private company to build with and you acquire the rating through meeting their criteria. LEED itself is entirely WEB based, they have no representatives that come out to inspect the buildings. This is why the receipts must be checked so thoroughly.
- Design is a main contributing factor to the high cost of the building. For example, certain criteria may ask that a building have a high number of windows to allow for natural light to come in. The more windows the more expensive. (T. Mayo)
- There is an unofficial goal of creating every major building with a LEED certification. Each FGCU President has adhered to this goal, and most recently Academic Building 9 broke ground and announced they were shooting for a LEED certification Silver. (T. Mayo)
- Other colleges with LEED certified buildings
- Pomona College had 10 LEED certified buildings including 6 gold and 1 silver rating. The other 3 building are platinum rated.
- The University of South Florida has five LEED-certified buildings, two at the Gold level, and several others currently under construction are pursuing LEED certification.
The University of California had a astounding 29 LEED certified buildings and requires all new construction and renovations to achieve a gold certification.
- Aerial map of FGCU campus
Work Cited
Mayo, T. (2018, October 30). Personal interview.
“LEED Certified Buildings.” Pomona College in Claremont, California - Pomona College, 24 Oct. 2016, www.pomona.edu/administration/sustainability/on-campus/facilities/leed-certified-buildings.
“10 Schools Leading the Way in Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges (Photos).” U.S. Green Building Council, www.usgbc.org/articles/10-schools-leading-way-princeton-review-guide-green-colleges-photos.
