Furman University Library Receives LEED Gold Certification
June 12, 2008
GREENVILLE, SC – June 12, 2008 – The James B. Duke Library at Furman University has been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Buildings earn LEED certification based on the number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. Buildings are assigned one of four levels in the rating system — Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum — based on the total number of points earned within each LEED category.
The James B. Duke Library earned credits in all six categories of evaluation: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design process.
Beginning in 2002, Furman’s library underwent more than two years of construction and renovation. Triangle Construction Company of Greenville oversaw the project. Architects were Shepley Bulfinch of Boston and Neal Prince Architects of Greenville.
The renovated James B. Duke Library expanded from less than 70,000 square feet to more than 120,000 square feet. Its book capacity doubled to more than 800,000 volumes, and the study space now includes 25 group study rooms and more than 900 seats.
The library is home to the Multimedia Computing Commons, the Computer Help Desk, the office of Academic Assistance, and the Center for Collaborative Learning and Communication. The library also received the 2006 Sustainable Design Award from the Carolinas Chapter of the International Interior Designers Association.
In 2003, Furman’s Herman N. Hipp Hall received LEED gold certification, becoming the first building in South Carolina to receive any sort of LEED certification.
For more information, contact Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.
