The new $53 million GE Aviation electrical power research and design center at the University of Dayton has been officially recognized for the environmentally-friendly way it was built and operates.
The Electrical Power Integrated Systems Center -- more commonly called the EPISCenter -- was issued a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. It is UD's first LEED-certified building, the university announced.
The 138,000-square-foot building is expected to be a "cornerstone for the revitalization of Dayton," UD President Daniel J. Curran said at its grand opening in December. About 70 researchers work there now, and as many as 200 could be employed at the center in the next five years.
The center was built using mostly recycled construction materials. The adhesives, paints, flooring and wood materials used are low-emitting, or not giving off many pollutants, according to UD. And more than 90 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
UD also said landscaping at the center is water-efficient and the plumbing system is designed to reduce water consumption by 40 percent. Employees can bike to work on the nearby bike path or ride the bus on lines that run near the building.
