About
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system for the design, construction and operation of high-performance buildings and developments, created by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). In 2011, the University pledged to construct all new buildings to LEED Silver standards. With the completion of the Nursing & Instructional Building in the Fall of 2021, UNCG now has 20 LEED certified buildings on campus, which amounts to 25% of UNCG’s total gross square footage.
School of Education
The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the School of Education, an 110,500-square-foot building located on Spring Garden Street, LEED Gold certification. On opening to students in August 2012, it was UNCG’s first LEED-certified building on campus.
Jefferson Suites
UNCG’s Jefferson Suites Residence Hall was awarded LEED Silver certification by the USGBC, an acknowledgement of the 176,000-square-foot building’s sustainable design, construction and operation. Jefferson Suites was the second building at the university to receive LEED certification after the School of Education.
The Quad Residence Halls
UNCG’s iconic Quad residence halls, a collection of seven buildings (Bailey, Coit, Cotten, Gray, Hinshaw, Jamison, Shaw), constructed in the 1920s and recently renovated, were certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2013. The certification gives the Quad dual prominence: Among the oldest buildings on campus — approaching a century of use — the residence halls now also rank among the most environmentally sustainable.
Moran Commons
UNCG’s Moran Commons dining hall (named in honor of former Chancellor William Moran) has received a major overhaul and received LEED Certified status. Improvements included skylights, vaulted ceilings and incorporating historic elements into the building’s new look.
Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Building, a 105,000-square-foot interdisciplinary research facility with specialized nanotechnology resources, was awarded LEED Gold certification. A joint project between UNCG and NC A&T State University, the building is in Gateway University Research Park on Lee Street.
Spartan Village Residence Halls
Spartan Village comprises six LEED Silver residence halls (Haywood, Highland, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, and Union) that offer apartment-style housing. Amenities include plentiful common areas, complimentary laundry facilities with Energy Star appliances, a bike garage and free express transportation service via the Spartan Chariot to central parts of campus.
UNCG Police Building
A centralized facility for the UNCG police. Located near the south plaza of a pedestrian underpass, this building was dedicated in early 2015 and was certified LEED Silver in May 2015.
Kaplan Center for Wellness
Kaplan Center for Wellness opened in Fall 2016 and was certified LEED Gold in August 2017. The state-of-the-art facility employs universal design and is located nearby to the police building and Spartan Village.
Nursing and Instructional Building
The United States Green Building Council awarded LEED Gold certification to the 180K square foot Nursing and Instructional Building in August of 2021. The building incorporates biophilic design, which is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment. Features include: high-energy efficiency standards with the use of LED lighting, heat recovery systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and 30 kilowatt photovoltaic systems on the roof – the first at UNCG!