LEED Platinum Building Tour

Pick up a brochure at the front desk during public open hours and take a self-guided tour to learn more about sustainable design and construction.

Building Tour Brochure

About LEED Certification

The Swaner EcoCenter is designed to achieve the coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification, the highest standard set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED rating system is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED promotes five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selections and indoor environmental quality.

At Swaner, we recognized that LEED categories reflect the primary elements of a healthy ecosystem – air, energy, green, and water. The EcoCenter's design and construction embody these elements to create a building that functions as a single, healthy ecosystem.

AIR  The EcoCenter contains no formaldehyde or refrigerants and avoids harmful fumes and chemicals to create unparalleled indoor air quality. At Swaner EcoCenter, even the building breathes.

ENERGY  Smart lighting and highly efficient cooling, insulation and glass reduce our energy needs by 54 percent. Solar collection panels on the roof capture the sun's energy to heat water, provide radiant heat, melt snow and generate electricity on site.

GREEN  More than 75 percent of the building materials are reclaimed, recycled or rapidly renewable resources.

WATER  Low flow and waterless plumbing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and a year-round rooftop water collection and storage system contribute to a 90% water savings.

How does the EcoCenter’s sustainable design affect the environment?

• 510 trees were diverted from being cut down by the use of bamboo flooring, bamboo cabinetry, sorghum board and cementitious siding throughout the EcoCenter.
• 77.7% of construction waste was diverted from landfills through recycling and reuse.
• 24.6% of the cost of materials used in the EcoCenter came from recycled content.
• 85% of denim insulation came from factory scraps and thus was diverted from landfills.
• 11% of structural steel was derived from recycled sources.
• 60% of the composite deck was used from recycled materials including: milk jugs, detergent bottles, and grocery bags.