Vida Animal and Human Health Building at CSU Spur Achieves LEED Gold Certification
The Vida building on Colorado State University’s Spur campus at the National Western Center in Denver, Colo., has officially achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The state-of-the-art facility highlights connection between animal and human health, with an emphasis on interactive exhibits and experiences designed to engage visitors of varying ages. The building is home to an extension of the Temple Grandin Equine Center, which provides equine-assisted activities and therapies, as well as a Dumb Friends League veterinary clinic that provides medical services for companion animals, among many other programmatic components.
Clark & Enersen incorporated numerous sustainable features into the design of Vida through a concerted effort with CSU to provide alternative energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and use highly durable, recyclable, and sustainable materials during construction. Examples of sustainable design features include:
- 113-kilowatt DC, 255-panel photovoltaic solar energy system.
- Lighting occupancy sensors and digital lighting control.
- Self-powered, zero power consumption wireless systems.
- SubMeters and Energy Manager software for real-time data analysis.
- Terracotta cladding with 100-plus-year lifespan that is 100% recyclable.
- Thermally-modified wood with no chemicals used in production, 25-plus years of rot resistance.
“At Clark & Enersen, we take pride in designing sustainable features into our projects,” says Andrea Anderson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, who led the LEED certification process for Vida. “It was a pleasure to work closely with CSU to support their sustainability initiatives and, ultimately, to achieve LEED Gold Certification for the flagship building on the new CSU Spur campus.”
For more information about Vida, please visit the dedicated project page. To learn more about Clark & Enersen’s approach to sustainable design, see our Sustainable Design page.