The Gates-Dell Complex is a LEED certified building. Photo by Kathryn Gatliff
The vision for sustainable building at The University of Texas at Austin is to maintain a campus environment that exemplifies sustainable practices in planning, design, construction and operations by optimizing the lifecycle cost of ownership, while enhancing environmental stewardship and human well-being.
The University of Texas at Austin Sustainability Policy calls for university buildings to evaluate the impact of construction projects, incorporate green building and design methods and consider the needs of future generations of the university community. The goal is to minimize the environmental footprint of the campus.
The University of Texas at Austin is also a member of the Central Texas - Balcones Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.
New Construction
All new buildings are designed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standard as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This commitment was made in 2009 in participation with the Clinton Global Initiative. A full list of LEED Certified building projects can be viewed on the Capital Planning & Construction website.
Existing Buildings
Building projects and renovations budgeted for less than ten million dollars are managed by Project Management and Construction Services (PMCS). A set of guidelines for green renovations is currently under review.