Elon University’s convocation center has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable design and construction.
Elon's Schar Center has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, bringing Elon to a total of 29 LEED certifications on campus.
The 5,100-seat, 160,000-square-foot convocation was completed in 2018 and is home court to the university's basketball and volleyball teams. The university's largest-capacity facility, it is designed to host universitywide events, such as last year's inauguration of President Connie Ledoux Book.
LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is the preeminent green building rating system internationally. Elon’s Green Building Policy states that new construction projects and major renovations more than 8,000 square feet will achieve LEED certification. LEED for Building Design and Construction assesses projects based on a point system that considers sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design and regional priority credits.
The Schar Center has numerous sustainable features, including low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy efficient systems. The energy cost savings for the building is about 39 percent compared to a building that just meets the standard building energy code. During construction, 85 percent of the waste generated on-site was diverted from the landfill. Regional building materials were used in the building as well as materials with recycled content.
Additional details about the building’s sustainable features can be found on the Office of Sustainability’s website.