CSU Research Innovation Center achieves LEED Gold rating

FORT COLLINS – The Research Innovation Center at Colorado State
University’s Foothills Campus has earned gold certification from the
U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design program.

The LEED program benchmarks the sustainable efforts and features of new
and existing buildings. To achieve a gold rating, a new building must
achieve sufficient points based on sustainable standards such as
responsibly managing construction waste, incorporating natural lighting
and implementing energy-saving fixtures.

The 60,000-square-foot RIC building was constructed in 2010 and houses
several biosafety Level 2 labs supporting the university’s infectious
disease research. Also included in the building is a 7,700-square-foot
vivarium operated by CSU’s lab animal research department.

The design of the RIC building includes features that decrease operating
costs by 42 percent, including low-flow toilets that decrease the
building’s water usage by 38 percent. Low-emitting carpet and paint were
used in the building to preserve indoor air quality.

A 54 kilowatt solar array provides approximately 6 percent of the
electrical load of the building, and about 830 tons of construction
waste generated by the project were recycled or repurposed.

CSU worked with architecture firm The FWA Group, which has an office in
Fort Collins, to construct an aesthetically pleasing and energy
efficient building.

“The FWA Group was extremely fortunate to work with Colorado State
University on the Research Innovation Center project,´ said Randy
Larsen, president of The FWA Group. “Early on, CSU showed a strong
commitment to sustainable design, setting a significant goal of
attaining LEED gold certification for the building. This is especially
noteworthy considering the high energy demands of research buildings.”