Centennial Hall Earns LEED Gold Certification

Residence hall is first on campus to achieve Gold rating
11/29/2011

• Centennial Hall website

Centennial Hall, the first residence hall at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), has been awarded Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

"We are thrilled that Centennial Hall met such a high standard," said Brenda Greenfield, executive director of the ESF College Foundation, Inc., which constructed the $31 million residence hall on Oakland Street. "It was important to us that the building be constructed in keeping with ESF's focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship. Our students have made it clear they expect the college to practice what it teaches. Achieving LEED Gold certification is proof that we succeeded."

Centennial Hall achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED-certified buildings help cut expenses, consume less energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. "The work of innovative building projects such as SUNY-ESF's Centennial Hall is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement."

Centennial Hall was constructed using sustainable building materials where possible and prefabricated modular units that minimized waste and helped keep the project on a tight construction schedule. Windows were designed to take advantage of natural lighting, minimize heat loss and provide for natural ventilation. The storm water management system uses rain gardens to essentially eliminate runoff; the landscaping includes native plants, minimizes maintenance and provides a pedestrian-friendly setting; and space for automobile parking is limited. The building also includes a popular indoor storage and cleaning facility for residents' bicycles.