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Three new LEED Gold-certified buildings bring IU closer to bicentennial sustainability goal

Feb 26, 2019

In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system, known as LEED. Its four certification levels, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified, are now globally recognized symbols of sustainability achievement.

Indiana University Bloomington received three LEED Gold certifications for buildings in the past few months, bringing the campus total to nine. The School of Public and Environmental Affairs addition, Ray E. Cramer Marching Hundred Hall and Hodge Hall all received gold certification in late 2018 and early 2019, reaffirming the university’s commitment to ensuring all new construction receives a minimum LEED Gold certification or higher, as laid out in the IU Bicentennial Strategic Plan.

Addition to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs building
Marching Hundred Hall exterior

Photos by Chaz Mottinger, Indiana University; Capital Planning and Facilities; and IU Kelley School of Business

“Indiana University has been a leader among Big Ten institutions in environmentally conscious building design and construction,” said Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Thomas A. Morrison. “Our three most recent LEED Gold certifications exemplify our commitment to constructing facilities that support and enhance our beautiful campus while seeking efficiencies in function, energy and water consumption, and use of recycled and other eco-friendly building materials.”

LEED’s point-based rating system evaluates buildings for their performance in seven categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priority credits. The following IU Bloomington construction projects have received LEED certifications:

Gold: 60 to 79 points

  • 3rd and Union Apartments
  • Cyberinfrastructure Building
  • Hodge Hall
  • Global and International Studies Building
  • Jacobs School of Music East Studio Building
  • Ray E. Cramer Marching Hundred Hall
  • School of Public and Environmental Affairs Addition
  • Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall renovation
  • Spruce Hall

Silver: 50 to 59 points

  • Innovation Center
  • Multidisciplinary Science Building II
  • Research and Teaching Preserve
  • Tulip Tree Apartments

Certified: 40 to 49 points

  • Forest Dining Hall

Contributing solutions like public transportation access, use of open spaces, water use reduction, efficient mechanical systems, installation of LED lighting, diversion of construction waste from landfills and recycling programs earn LEED certification points.

Want to see where LEED-certified buildings are on each IU campus? Check out IU’s interactive maps or visit the LEED projects page on the Capital Planning and Facilities website.

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