MINI传媒

August 22, 2016 | Written by Dana Jennings

and the officials announced today (Aug. 22) the has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED庐) Silver certification, established by the (USGBC) and verified by the . 

The LEED庐 Green Building Rating System is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. 

鈥淩eceiving the LEED庐 Silver certification for the Innovation Hub at Research Park project is another landmark in fostering sustainability across the Texas Tech University System,鈥� said , vice chancellor for Facilities Planning & Construction. 鈥淚t always is our goal to construct buildings to LEED庐 standards, and this recognition affirms our exemplary efforts.鈥� 

LEED庐 certification signifies the recognition of Texas Tech University as a leader in the green building movement. The research building achieved Silver certification for its environmentally conscious, sustainable construction in energy use, lighting, water and material use. 

By using less energy and water, LEED庐 certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. 

鈥淭he meaning of LEED庐 certification is at the very essence of why we developed the Innovation Hub at Research Park at Texas Tech University,鈥� said , president of Texas Tech University. 鈥淭his building reflects a forward thinking attitude and houses a productive environment for collaborative and innovative decisions that will affect our global future.鈥� 

Texas Tech University鈥檚 Innovation Hub at Research Park officially opened on Aug. 5, 2015. Near the corner of Fourth Street and Quaker Avenue, the 40,000-square-foot facility is designed as a resource for faculty and students of both Texas Tech University and , as well as business communities to promote entrepreneurialism and research efforts in numerous areas. 

The building is engineered to minimize negative environmental impacts and focuses on resource savings. It is designed to reduce indoor water use by 43 percent compared to a conventional building, and more than 44 percent of electrical and natural gas energy use has been reduced from the baseline use. Additionally, more than 35 percent of the building materials were extracted, harvested and manufactured within a 500-mile radius, and more than half of the debris generated during construction for the project has been recycled.  

鈥淚 am grateful to our talented team and many partners for their outstanding work on the project and diligence to this important priority,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淭his certification wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without Kirksey Architecture, Hill & Wilkinson, Chambers Engineering and Alderson & Associates, as well as countless other designers, engineers and tradesman.鈥� 

The building site and landscaping for the project also were noted for sustainability efforts and careful design. An efficient irrigation system and native, drought-tolerant plant selections were used to reduce irrigated potable water by 60 percent. 

The Innovation Hub at Research Park is the second building on the Texas Tech University campus to achieve LEED庐 certification, joining the , which was Gold certified in 2012. 

Under the leadership of Molina, manages new construction and renovation projects valued over $2 million for the Texas Tech University System and its four universities. The department has an annual project portfolio averaging approximately $250 million. Additionally, Facilities Planning & Construction oversees campus master planning, facility and land development, public art and vendor information for all components. 

U.S. Green Building Council 
The Washington, D.C.-based USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for the nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED庐 Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $29.8 billion to GDP by 2018. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. 

尝贰贰顿庐&苍产蝉辫;
The U.S. Green Building Council鈥檚 LEED庐 green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED庐 rating systems, comprising more than 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. 

About the MINI传媒 
The MINI传媒 is one of the top public university systems in Texas and the nation, consisting of four component institutions 鈥� Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso 鈥� and operating at more than a dozen academic sites and centers.  Headquartered in Lubbock, Texas, the MINI传媒 has an annual operating budget of nearly $2 billion and approximately 19,000 employees focused on advancing higher education, health care, research and outreach. 

In 2015, the MINI传媒鈥檚 endowment exceeded $1.1 billion, total research expenditures were more than $215 million and total enrollment was approximately 50,000 students. Whether it鈥檚 contributing billions of dollars annually in economic impact or being the only system in Texas to house an academic institution, law school and health-related institution at the same location, the MINI传媒 continues to prove that anything is possible.