Sustainable education facilities create more effective learning environments, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Green schools also save on average $100,000 per year on operating costs and use 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water than conventionally constructed schools. No wonder then that education is one of the fastest growing markets for green buildings and LEED certification.

College and universities are at the forefront of this movement, boasting a higher percentage of LEED-certified green space than any other sectors including government, retail and hospitality. Many already mandate minimum levels of LEED certification for all new campus facilities while others are taking it a step further and retrofitting old facilities to bring them into conformance with LEED standards.

Yet greening a campus takes more than simply enhancing the performance of individual buildings, according to the USGBC's Center for Green Schools. "Institutions need to consider methods for integrating sustainable practices into the complete life cycle of a campus starting from the master planning to the daily operations and maintenance." For institutions of higher education, the LEED certification program can serve as a blueprint for campus greening efforts from setting design standards and improving master development planning and specifications to institutionalizing sustainability efforts. 

Roadmap to a Green Campus

The USGBC defines "green campus" as a higher education community that is improving energy efficiency, conserving resources and enhancing environmental quality by educating for sustainability and creating healthy living and learning environments. It has created Roadmap to a Green Campus, a free 118-page PDF resource to "assist colleges and universities of various sizes, budgets, and locations in defining and meeting their sustainability goals."

Higher education "LEEDs" the green dialogue

 In 1990, three years before the USGBC was formed, the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) convened a conference of 22 U.S. and international universities in Talloires, France to discuss the role of the world's universities in a sustainable future. The result was The Talloires Declaration, a 10-point plan and the first official commitment made by university presidents, chancellors, and rectors to environmental sustainability in higher education. To date, it has been signed by more than 429 university presidents and chancellors in more than 52 countries. (Read More...) 

CTH+A FIRM NEWS

Florida Educational Facilities Planners' Association Inc. (FEFPA) presented C.T. Hsu + Associates (CTH+A) with the Award of Merit for Design in the College Category for the Valencia College / UCF University Center project at the FEFPA Winter Conference Architectural Showcase. The FEFPA Conference was held on February 1-3 at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. This is the third award presented to the firm for this project. The other two awards were presented to CTH+A from AIA Orlando in 2011. These awards include an Award of Honor and an Award of Merit for Sustainable Design.

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) has selected CTH+A to provide architectural and engineering services for the Cypress Creek High School Comprehensive Needs Project to provide improved facilities and to modernize the campus located at 1101 Bear Crossing Drive in Orlando.  Major elements of the project include renovation and expansion/remodeling of approximately 402,203 gross square feet (GSF) at the existing Cypress Creek High School campus that was constructed in 1992. Several buildings will be renovated/remodeled, (Read more...)

C.T. Hsu + Associates, P.A. (CTH+A) announced today that Kelly White, AIA, LEED AP has joined the firm in the role of Project Manager/Architect.

White has 14 years experience in the architectural industry working for private sector firms, as well as lecturing as a professor of architectural design at Valencia College where she started her college education. White's professional architectural portfolio includes healthcare, criminal justice, arts and entertainment, and government administration facility projects throughout the State of Florida.   Kelly expresses, "I have a passion for the design of public architecture and its meaningful contribution to the community. I look forward to contributing to C.T. Hsu + Associates' mission of excellence for innovative design and personalized service."   (Read more...)

CTH+A's President C.T. Hsu, FAIA, LEED AP, co-presented a workshop session at the Florida Educational Facilities Planners' Association, Inc. (FEFPA) Winter Conference with VHB's Principal John Jennings, ASLA, titled "Why Develop a GREEN, Green Campus." The presentation addressed why green campuses matter and focused on the Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges, presented in partnership with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), which listed the sustainability initiatives of nine Florida universities including: Stetson University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, University of West Florida, University of Miami, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. (Read more...)

CTH+A PROJECTS IN PROCESS