New College of Florida in Sarasota has gone green.
Opening a new $11 million
Academic Center just in time for 50 classes for the Fall semester,
the college was recently awarded with gold
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the
U.S. Green Building Council for the extensive number of environmentally friendly features the building offers.
New features include special CO2 room sensors that measure air quality and adjust the air-conditioning system accordingly, specially designed built-in tanks to collect storm water, toilets that flush using residual rainwater from the roof and air-conditioning condensate, pavers and reflective roofing materials and high-efficiency windows to promote natural lighting.
“Environmentally, the New College Academic Center uses fewer of our regions natural resources,” says Lynn Riechmann, spokesperson for the college. “The architectural features that garnered the building golf LEED certification certainly help minimize our carbon footprint as we continue to provide better facilities for students.”
Part of the
New College Campus Master Plan that was approved in June 2008, the 3,500-square-foot Academic Center encompasses all that the plan envisioned: environmentally progressive campus development over the next 30 years, promoting a more seamless relationship between academic and residential life.
“The new center really enhances the educational experience for students,” says Riechmann. “About 20 percent of our alumni live and work in the Tampa Bay area, entering the regional workforce as doctors, lawyers, educators, leaders and other professionals.”
Writer:
Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Lynn Riechmann,
New College of Florida
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