SSRCx Provides LEED-Facilitation for 100,000-Square-Foot Expansion

ATHENS, Ga. – The Tate Student Center expansion has been awarded LEED-NC 2.2 Gold-certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).   The addition, which opened in June, earned every credit point that was submitted in the LEED process. 

SSRCx, a Nashville-based commissioning firm specializing in the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings, provided LEED facilitation services for the 100,000-square-foot expansion.  The Tate Center becomes the sixth building on a university campus in the state of Georgia to be certified at the gold level and the second to be so designated in Athens.

“We are thrilled to announce the completion of the much anticipated expansion of the Tate Student Center. The building serves as a key community space for student activity on campus, and the expansion enables the University to not only better serve the needs of our students, but also model positive, environmental practices,” said Paul Cassilly, director of design and construction, University Architects for Facilities Planning.  “Recognizing our environmental impact is the first step in protecting the environment and creating more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings that will continue to serve our students for many years to come."

Highlights of the Tate Student Center’s green features include:

• A 26,378-square foot green roof, as well as a 75,000-gallon cistern for rainwater and condensate water harvesting.
• The reclaimed water is being used to flush toilets, provide make-up water for campus fountains and irrigate the campus landscape from non-potable sources.
• A mechanical system designed to maximize efficiencies with heat recovery and an economizer mode.
• Approximately 40 percent of the building materials were supplied by local or regional sources, and low VOC (volatile organic compound) materials were used in carpet, paint, adhesives and sealants throughout the building in order to enhance air quality.

In addition, the university diverted three-quarters of the construction waste from landfills to a construction waste recycling facility that provided materials such as gravel mulch and soil to be used elsewhere on campus.  

More information on the LEED green building certification system is available at www.usgbc.org/LEED.