Robert A.M. Stern Architects' University of Connecticut Downtown Hartford campus has been certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The University of Connecticut's new campus continues the revitalization of downtown Hartford's Adriaen's Landing District with 179,000 square feet of classrooms, teaching laboratories, meeting rooms for academic departments, student and administrative spaces, casual dining, and social spaces, all organized around a 50-foot-high atrium. Following a meticulous restoration of the facade, with its grand staircases and raised podium facing City Hall Park, the historic Hartford Times Building now forms the west entrance of the new campus. The return of the University of Connecticut to Downtown Hartford after many years of absence, enables this important public institution to play a direct role in the area's continued revitalization while honoring the city's rich history. RAMSA Partners Robert A.M. Stern, Graham S. Wyatt, and Preston J. Gumberich led the design effort.
A 35% reduction in indoor water use, 34% energy cost savings, and 30% increased ventilation for higher indoor air quality helped propel the project to LEED Gold status. In addition, the use of low emitting materials and sealants, indoor chemical and pollutant source control, and thermal comfort design, also make significant contributions. Green-e Certified green power supplies 70% of the campus’s electricity demand.
The USGBC's LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used third-party verification for green buildings. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas that address sustainability issues. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then receives one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
