Celebrating green with gold

The Campus Recreation Center is unique among buildings in Colorado and “one in a million,” a representative of the U.S. Green Building Council said Tuesday at celebration ceremonies for the first Leadership in Energy Efficient Design building at UCCS.

Dana Kose, chair, U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Chapter, was one of several university, city and state officials to join in this week’s St. Patrick’s Day green-themed celebration of the LEED Gold certification of the recreation center.

“This building is one of only two recreation centers in the nation to achieve this level of certification,” Kose said. “But if you think of all the buildings in downtown Denver and in the rest of the state, it’s safe to say that of all the buildings in Colorado, this is truly one in a million.”

Kose joined in the unveiling of the LEED award plaque in the Recreation Center’s entryway with Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak.

“Colleges and universities must be leaders of change and for change,” Shockley-Zalabak said. “Today, I am pleased to accept this very visible recognition of our commitment and to display it proudly for all to see and for many to follow.”

Other speakers at the event, which also featured explanations of the LEED certification process and exhibits from environmentally friendly vendors, included CU Regent Kyle Hybl, Colorado Springs City Council Member Jan Martin, Tom Huber, professor, Geography and Environmental Studies, Angie Fyfe, Governor’s Energy Office, Matt Gaden, director, Recreation Center, Linda Kogan, director, Sustainability, and Daniel Garcia representing Student Government.

Brian Burnett, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, served as the master of ceremonies.

“The product of this place is not golden buildings, it is smart kids”

 

But it was Patrick McDavid, a student representing student organization Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability, who captured the spirit of the day.

“The product of this place is not golden buildings, it is smart kids,” McDavid said. “Smart kids today means something new. To be smart today you have to have some wisdom apart from old ideologies. Sustainability is new to our minds, but it feels right. We need to put sustainability into the campus’ product: smart kids. Every student here needs to hear it, every student here needs to learn it, and every student here needs to do it if we’re going to make right choices like the one we’re celebrating today.”