LEED Buildings

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system set forth by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to rank the environmental performance of a certain building. Because the system is credit based, universities such as ours can earn points for actions that are deemed as environmentally friendly when building new construction. There are four levels of certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), and Platinum (80-110 points). This system of certification was implemented in 1994 and has been vital to the ongoing sustainability in building that can be seen across many of the world's great universities.

Griffin Hall is home to NKU’s Center for Informatics and its unique architecture is a highlight of all of campus. The building has achieved LEED Silver certification, and is NKU’s first LEED certified building. Installed by Tecta America Zero Company and Green City Resources in 2011, the green roof atop Griffin Hall covers approximately 23% of the entire roof space, or 8100 square feet, of the building. It is composed of native plants and grasses and serves to diminish rainwater runoff on campus, as well as to contribute to a culture of sustainability, efficient energy usage and resource management. 

The Campus Recreation Center has recreational and fitness facilities available to student, faculty, staff, and alumni, including open gym space, an indoor track, racquetball courts, swimming pool, and fitness rooms. This building is LEED Gold, and the second building on campus to be LEED-certified. The programs and departments located in this facility include: Campus Recreation; Intercollegiate Athletics; Kinesiology and Health (Physical Education); FUEL NKU and UK College of Medicine – Northern Kentucky Campus.

Opened in Fall of 2018, the Health Innovation Center attaches on five floors to the early 1970’s-era Founders Hall. These two LEED Silver-certified facilities provide an active learning, experiential-based, simulated environment for health care practice, health related decision making, and applied biomedical research. These are the third and fourth buildings to receive LEED certification on campus. If you would like To see sustainability measures taking place in these buildings, click here for a virtual green tour.