“The University Athletic Association at UF applied innovative policies and programs early on to show our commitment to sustainability,” says Dustin Stephany, Sustainable Building Coordinator in Planning, Design, and Construction at University of Florida, Gainesville. “We’re constantly trying to streamline our sustainable approach but still make it project-specific, and the ballpark was an ideal way to explore Green Globes®.”
“There were a few moments I felt stuck, but we were serious about getting to
our goal. I really appreciated the person-to-person interaction with our [assessor]. He helped us explore all available avenues.”
The $65 million ballpark includes a stadium with seating for approximately 7,000 fans on a 10-acre site. More than 97,000 square feet of occupiable space beneath the stadium houses offices for coaching staff, locker rooms, and pitching and batting tunnels. In a project of this scope, sustainable practices have far-reaching impacts on the environment, players, UF staff, and fans.
“A lot of the green features aren’t visible, but they make a big difference,” asserts Bill Smith, Assistant Athletics Director of Facilities at the University Athletic Association. “This facility is energy efficient and comfortable, and a positive user experience is very important for our patrons.”
The design and construction team discovered that the Green Globes online questionnaire covered some new bases. “I was particularly interested in the landscape design criteria, such as grouping different plant pallets together for easy maintenance and irrigation and using organic mulching to ensure we had a quality product,” Stephany notes.
Sustainable hallmarks of the Condron Family Ballpark include:
- Modeling demonstrates a 42% improvement in energy performance over a standard building.
- UF has committed to the purchasing of Renewable Energy Certificates to offset energy consumption.
- Materials for the building core and shell and interior fit-out are specified with EPD’s and/or third-party certifications.
- Electric vehicle charging stations assist in the reduction of vehicle emissions.
- Regularly occupied areas are furnished with occupancy sensors for lighting systems.
“With Green Globes, we were incentivized to reduce energy whenever we could,” Stephany recalls. “This is our first project to incorporate outdoor LED field lighting and we were surprised by the lighting distribution and consistency. Pursuing Green Globes certification opened our eyes to this technology.”
“The LEDs offered a much more focused light, and that allows us to use less lights,” Smith says. “The initial cost was a little more expensive but the payback is so much quicker – it’s a no-brainer.”
Springtime is warm in Florida, and one passive design strategy offers dual benefits. “Shade structures not only keep our building cool to improve energy efficiency, they also cover multiple seat sections to keeps our sports-viewers comfortable, and that enhances the overall experience,” Stephany points out.
The target of Three Green Globes provided a challenge, but Stephany found an ally in the Green Globes Assessor (GGA).
“There were a few moments I felt stuck, but we were serious about getting to our goal,” says Stephany. “I really appreciated the person-to-person interaction with our [assessor]. He helped us explore all available avenues for sustainability and provide the right documentation to obtain the applicable credits.”
Smith thought the onsite walkthrough was a highlight. “Having the [assessor] come to the installation was a real benefit,” he says. “It’s one thing to read the sustainable intent of certain items on a piece of paper, but it is more effective to see first-hand how the systems will be used.”
Thanks to a long line of collective efforts and the collaborative nature of the Green Globes assessment process, UF is the highest of any public institution in Florida to have certified a new construction or major renovation project.
