The U.S. Green Building Council awarded LEED Gold certification to Penn State University, Millennium Science Complex (MSC) – a 291,000 gross square-foot research facility integrating the university’s Life Sciences and Materials Sciences departments and completed in 2011 – for its green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community.
“The success and importance of the Penn State University MSC is not a result of having achieved LEED Gold certification, rather it is a confirmation that the creation of a meaningful design holistically integrates sustainable technologies and environmental strategies,” said David Rolland, Partner of Viñoly. “The challenge was never the incorporation of sustainable features – as these were embedded and essential to the concept – but rather the optimization of the building systems in terms of performance, efficiency, and costs. We are proud to have been part of team that embraced the goals of sustainability and are honored by the USGBC’s recognition of the MSC for its responsible stewardship of the earth’s resources – a responsibility that helps to preserve our planet’s assets for future generations.”
