The University of Minnesota announced today that TCF Bank Stadium has been awarded LEED Silver Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. With this designation, TCF Bank Stadium becomes the first LEED certified collegiate or professional football facility in the country.
Located on the East Bank of the Twin Cities campus, the 50,805-seat TCF Bank Stadium is the new home for Golden Gopher Football and the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Construction of the stadium began in July 2007 and was completed July 2009. Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event) served as the primary architect for the building, while Mortenson Construction was the general contractor.
"TCF Bank Stadium is an historic project for the university and it was important to us to do it right," said Univeristy of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks. "This designation, in particular, underscores the commitment of the Board of Regents and the leadership of the university to principles of sustainability, energy conservation and responsible stewardship of our environment and our resources."
LEED Certification of TCF Bank Stadium was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:
- A storm water management system that allows rain water to be captured into a comprehensive underground filtering system outside the stadium, where it is harvested, filtered and drained into the Mississippi River.
- Steel for the stadium is 90 percent recycled and was fabricated primarily in Minneapolis.
- A reflective roof to reduce heat island effect.
- Paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives that are low in volatile organic compounds, which can aggravate health problems.
- 98 percent of the construction waste from the site was recycled.
- A 50 percent reduction in the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
- A 30 percent reduction in indoor potable water use.
"The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on nonsustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "The work of innovative building projects such as TCF Bank Stadium is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement."
By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
"There's no better experience than seeing 50,000 Gopher fans coming back to campus to celebrate Minnesota football, and to be able to do that in a stadium that's respectful of the environment was paramount for us from day one," said Scott Radecic, senior principal of Populous.
"Mortenson is honored to work with an outstanding team to build the first football stadium, collegiate or professional, to become LEED certified," said Ken Sorensen, vice president and general manager of Mortenson's Minneapolis office. "This is a meaningful testament to the university's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility within our community."
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. 35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 5.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries.