It was announced last week that the Dr. Charles A. Kane Student Services and Administration Building became the sixth building for Riverside Community College District to receive LEED certification.
The building joins Riverside City College’s School of Nursing and Math & Science Building; the Student Academic Services Building at Moreno Valley College; Norco College’s Operations Center; and the Henry W. Coil, Sr. and Alice Coil School of the Arts and the Culinary Arts Academy/District Office building at Centennial Plaza in downtown Riverside to earn the label as LEED certified. Each has received silver certification. The U.S. Green Building Council awards certification on three levels — platinum, gold and silver.
These new buildings were funded by the 2004 voter approved $350 million Measure C bond. The bond allowed the District to finance much-needed projects to accommodate the growing number of students in the District and the unique programs offered. The monies have paid for the acquisition, construction, improvement, and renovation of various college facilities and infrastructure.
“We are excited to provide both well designed and planned facilities to serve the needs of our students, faculty and staff; but also sustainable facilities to lessen operational costs. The stewardship of the Measure C monies, which are entrusted to us by households in the communities our colleges serve, is very important,” Chris Carlson, chief of staff and facilities development, said. “Recognition of our stewardship in sustainability practices and improvements is gratifying, especially when we can tie it to the success of our students.”
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. The process is designed to inspire project teams to seek innovative solutions that support public health and our environment, while saving building owners money over a project’s life cycle.
The Dr. Charles A. Kane Student Services and Administration Building was designed by HMC Architects.
To received LEED certification, a building must produce less waste and be energy efficient, resulting in not only a smaller carbon footprint, but also a savings in running and maintaining of the building.