DANBURY, CONN. — The new Visual and Performing Arts Center at Western Connecticut State University has been certified as LEED Silver by the United States Council on Green Buildings, signifying the facility is energy efficient and was built in a way that conserves resources.

Architects and administrators involved in the project planned for LEED certification from the beginning of design through the two years of construction, even adjusting campus smoking rules to address environmental policies of the certifying agency.

“This designation confirms Western’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” said President James W. Schmotter. “Our new Visual and Performing Arts Center epitomizes creativity not only in the work of our faculty and students, but also in architectural design and in the management of the university’s carbon footprint.”

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and are ranked in several different areas.

Peter Visentin, WCSU director of planning and engineering, said criteria used to achieve silver status at the center included water and energy efficiency, indoor air quality, energy usage and the use of recycled or sustainable building materials.

Success demands more than simply following a checklist.

“The process requires you to put together a puzzle that is cost-effective and energy efficient,” Visentin said. “On a university campus everyone comes with a different perspective. The facilities people are thinking about maintenance, the faculty wants the best teaching facility. So consensus-building is the most important thing. Over the years you develop a sense of what needs to come first in the planning process and get everyone to agree with the steps in the project.”

Jenna McClure, an associate at Amenta/Emma Architects, the architect of record for the project, is a LEED-certified professional and helped guide the project.

One of the LEED requirements mandates that people who smoke do so at a minimum of 25 feet from the building. University policy requires smokers to light up at least 15 feet away from all buildings — except for the new center, which conforms to the 25-foot limit. It was one of the easier aspects of the process, which also included boosting energy efficiency in the facility by 20 percent over normal operations.

“This is an example of what we achieve as a 21st century campus committed to providing a state-of-the-art teaching and learning environment, while continuing to focus our attention on minimizing the footprint we leave behind on the greater community,” said Luigi Marcone, WCSU interim associate vice president for Facilities.

The $97 million Visual and Performing Arts Center, which was completed this summer, is the third building at Western to receive LEED certification, joining the Science Building (Silver), and Centennial Hall, a residence hall, at the basic certification.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics
of New England’s best small private universities.