Buffalo State is committed to sustainable facilities. This includes a commitment to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards in its construction. LEED status, granted by the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizes best-in-class sustainable building strategies.
LEED Certification recognizes responsible practices in such areas as choosing sustainable building sites, promoting water efficiency, ensuring better building energy performance, using sustainable building materials, and promoting indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.
A comprehensive rehabilitiation of Houston Gymnasium, completed in summer 2014, has made this building 15 percent more energy efficient than other facilities of its type. It also uses 39 percent less water than its counterparts. During the renovation process, more than 75 percent of waste materials were diverted from landfills.
More than 10 percent of the building materials were processed and manufactured locally, supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts of transportation.
As a result of this renovation, Houston Gym has been certified LEED Gold.
LEED Gold certification has been granted for the Buffalo State Technology Building, opened in fall 2013. This facility has photovoltaic panels on its upper roof -- providing 17 percent of the building's power -- and features a vegetative lower roof that absorbs rainwater and maximizes building insulation.
Phase one of Buffalo State's Science and Mathematics Complex is complete, with LEED Gold certification anticipated for this innovative new building. Products in the facility were made from more than 40 percent recycled content, and nearly 40 percent of its construction materials were regionally manufactured. During construction the facility diverted 85 percent of its waste materials from landfills to be reused.
Buffalo State's Student Apartment Complex, completed in 2011, received LEED Gold certification. Housing 500 students in more than 225,000 square feet, it is powered entirely by certified clean source renewable energy.
Completed in 2008, the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State was the first art museum in New York State to be LEED-certified, achieving LEED Silver status. It uses about 50 percent less water than other buildings of its type, and is calculated to be 19 percent more energy efficient overall than similar buildings.
