St. Petersburg College’s New Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education Building is Certified LEED® Gold
St. Petersburg College's newsest campus building is awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Clearwater, FL, July 15, 2009 --(PR.com)-- St. Petersburg College announced today that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings.
The Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building on the Clearwater campus received the certification. The other LEED Gold building is the Student Services building on the St Petersburg/Gibbs campus.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Gold is its second highest designation.
The certification was issued July 1 for the design-build project, built by W.G. Mills, Inc. and designed in association with Flad Architects.
Both buildings opened in January. They were built to conform to the LEED Green Building Rating System™, a nationally accepted certifier of high performance and environmentally sensitive buildings.
“Environmentally friendly building operations provide nearly 40% of the solution to the climate change issue,” said Jason Green, SPC’s Sustainability Coordinator. “Even though climate change exists as part of a global challenge, we are attempting to address it locally through sustainable building design and other college-wide initiatives.”
Both buildings were designed to decrease pollution and negative impacts on the environment; decrease impact on local aquifers; decrease energy consumption; and increase the quality of indoor air and the indoor working environment.
John L. Evans, SPC’s architect, said the college has always constructed buildings that are energy efficient.
“SPC has always specified efficient buildings,” he said. “Our design guidelines for this building were really not that different or more stringent that what we have been doing in the past.”
The Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building includes “Green Cleaning” products. Reflective roofing and paving materials result in cooler surfaces. Fourteen preferred parking spaces are provided for fuel-efficient vehicles/carpools, and bicycle storage and shower/changing facilities are located within the building.
Composite wood products contain no added urea formaldehyde, and all adhesives, paints and carpets meet low volatile organic compound (VOC) standards. To ensure proper function and minimize energy loss through building exhaust, chemistry laboratory fume hoods were tested and commissioned. There is no smoking within 25 feet of any entry.
The building’s design should inspire students, said Charm Callahan, SPC’s interior designer.
“This new green building provides an example for students to actually experience the impact of thoughtful and responsible design,” she said.
Additional facts about the building:
43 percent water savings achieved through low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets and waterless urinals.
At least 86 percent of all construction waste recycled. As a result, 3,147 tons of construction waste was diverted from landfill.
On a cost basis, more than 5 percent of the materials used in the building were salvaged, refurbished or reused; 21 percent contain recycled content; and at least 30 percent were extracted, harvested, recovered, and/or manufactured within 500 miles of the building.
71 percent of wood-based materials and products were certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council’s Principles and Criteria.
“We can think of no better way to demonstrate our environmental commitment than through the LEED certified buildings we construct, and the existing buildings we renovate,” said Carl M. Kuttler, Jr., SPC President.
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About St. Petersburg College:
St. Petersburg College was founded in 1927 as a two-year institution of higher learning. Known then as St. Petersburg Junior College, it provided high-quality, fully-accredited programs with credits that were fully transferable to four-year institutions. In 2001, the Florida Legislature passed legislation allowing the college to offer four-year degrees. In response, the college dropped the word “junior” from its name and became St. Petersburg College. Today, St. Petersburg College offers programs at learning sites in St. Petersburg, Seminole, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs and elsewhere. It also offers courses and degree programs online.
Contact:
Bill Frederick
St. Petersburg College
727-341-3076
frederick.bill@spcollege.edu
The Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building on the Clearwater campus received the certification. The other LEED Gold building is the Student Services building on the St Petersburg/Gibbs campus.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Gold is its second highest designation.
The certification was issued July 1 for the design-build project, built by W.G. Mills, Inc. and designed in association with Flad Architects.
Both buildings opened in January. They were built to conform to the LEED Green Building Rating System™, a nationally accepted certifier of high performance and environmentally sensitive buildings.
“Environmentally friendly building operations provide nearly 40% of the solution to the climate change issue,” said Jason Green, SPC’s Sustainability Coordinator. “Even though climate change exists as part of a global challenge, we are attempting to address it locally through sustainable building design and other college-wide initiatives.”
Both buildings were designed to decrease pollution and negative impacts on the environment; decrease impact on local aquifers; decrease energy consumption; and increase the quality of indoor air and the indoor working environment.
John L. Evans, SPC’s architect, said the college has always constructed buildings that are energy efficient.
“SPC has always specified efficient buildings,” he said. “Our design guidelines for this building were really not that different or more stringent that what we have been doing in the past.”
The Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building includes “Green Cleaning” products. Reflective roofing and paving materials result in cooler surfaces. Fourteen preferred parking spaces are provided for fuel-efficient vehicles/carpools, and bicycle storage and shower/changing facilities are located within the building.
Composite wood products contain no added urea formaldehyde, and all adhesives, paints and carpets meet low volatile organic compound (VOC) standards. To ensure proper function and minimize energy loss through building exhaust, chemistry laboratory fume hoods were tested and commissioned. There is no smoking within 25 feet of any entry.
The building’s design should inspire students, said Charm Callahan, SPC’s interior designer.
“This new green building provides an example for students to actually experience the impact of thoughtful and responsible design,” she said.
Additional facts about the building:
43 percent water savings achieved through low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets and waterless urinals.
At least 86 percent of all construction waste recycled. As a result, 3,147 tons of construction waste was diverted from landfill.
On a cost basis, more than 5 percent of the materials used in the building were salvaged, refurbished or reused; 21 percent contain recycled content; and at least 30 percent were extracted, harvested, recovered, and/or manufactured within 500 miles of the building.
71 percent of wood-based materials and products were certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council’s Principles and Criteria.
“We can think of no better way to demonstrate our environmental commitment than through the LEED certified buildings we construct, and the existing buildings we renovate,” said Carl M. Kuttler, Jr., SPC President.
###
About St. Petersburg College:
St. Petersburg College was founded in 1927 as a two-year institution of higher learning. Known then as St. Petersburg Junior College, it provided high-quality, fully-accredited programs with credits that were fully transferable to four-year institutions. In 2001, the Florida Legislature passed legislation allowing the college to offer four-year degrees. In response, the college dropped the word “junior” from its name and became St. Petersburg College. Today, St. Petersburg College offers programs at learning sites in St. Petersburg, Seminole, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs and elsewhere. It also offers courses and degree programs online.
Contact:
Bill Frederick
St. Petersburg College
727-341-3076
frederick.bill@spcollege.edu
Contact
St. Petersburg College
Bill Frederick
727-341-3076
www.spcollege.edu
Bill Frederick
727-341-3076
www.spcollege.edu
Contact
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