The new Environment and Natural Resources 2 building at the University of Arizona is the largest project in the state of Arizona to earn a LEED Platinum certification - the highest environmental rating for buildings. Designed by Richärd+Bauer Architecture, the building's sustainable performance is accomplished through its canyon-like form, organization, water usage, and waste management, ventilation and lighting systems.
The 151,000-square-foot ENR2 building is an addition to the UA campus with three other LEED-certified buildings – the Student Recreation Center expansion, the Árbol de la Vida Residence Hall and Likins Hall. It houses interactive and shared learning spaces, boosting productivity and collaboration.
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Thanks to an efficient water usage and rainwater harvesting system, the building reduced the amount of water used annually by 40 percent. It can capture up to 260,000 gallons of rainwater each year. A underground storage and filtration tank provides water for irrigation.
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“The LEED platinum certification for ENR2 is great news for those of us who teach or research on the environment because it shows that we try to practice what we preach in terms of workplace sustainability,” said Diana Liverman, co-director of the UA’s Institute of the Environment.
Via UA News
Photos by Liam Frederick
