Photo by Jonny Carroll
College campuses are full of LEED certification potential. The auditorium. The library. Student housing. The football stadium? That’s right, football stadiums are moving into the world of LEED certification as a way to better the environment and save money. Old stadiums are making green updates, and new stadiums are taking advantage of old resources.
The University of Minnesota was a pioneer in green building with its football stadium, TCF Bank Stadium. Built in 2009, the Gopher’s home stadium received LEED Silver certification for new construction by reducing waste and pollution, minimizing operating costs, and creating healthier environments for fans, athletes, and employees.
Everything’s greener in Texas, you say? At least that is the case at the University of North Texas. Opened in 2011, Apogee Stadium was the first newly constructed LEED Platinum college football stadium in the United States. “UNT is a leader in environmental research and sustainability,” said University President V. Lane Rawlins. “The fact that we have the first LEED Platinum football stadium is an example of our commitment and our plans for the future.”
The University of California at Berkley’s historic stadium was built in 1923 as a memorial to fallen soldiers of World War I. That makes California Memorial Stadium almost 100 years old, but in 2014 it’s reconstruction and renovation project was awarded LEED Gold for LEED BD+C: New Construction and Major Renovations. But that’s not all – the University of California system has almost 200 LEED certifications across its campuses.
It doesn’t stop in college. Professional baseball and football teams are taking steps to earn LEED certifications at their facilities, making sporting events a more enjoyable and sustainable experience all around.
If you enjoy design and construction for major sports venues, consider adding a LEED Green Associate or LEED AP with specialty to your resume. A LEED credential demonstrates your expertise in green building strategies for the LEED family of rating systems. Get started today!
