Coastal Carolina University's Adkins Field House has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the first LEED project for the University.

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the quantifiable metrics related to sustainability: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Mark Avant, project manager in the Department of Facilities, Planning and Management, is the LEED accredited professional for the University.

The state-of-the-art building located in the end zone at Brooks Stadium is a 55,400-square-foot facility with a 13,170 square-foot weight room, football team locker room, laundry room, 37 offices, three meeting rooms, a conference room, the George F. "Buddy" Sasser Hall of Fame and a large multi-purpose room.

"This is a huge achievement for Mark and for the entire university," said Sandra Williams, director of Facilities, Planning and Management. "It's the first LEED building on campus, and to receive a gold award is a wonderful success, hopefully the first of many [LEED construction projects]."

Dan Abel, a marine science professor who has led the campus sustainability effort, said, "This achievement is evidence that CCU is committed to fulfilling our responsibility to students, taxpayers, the community and the planet of becoming a sustainable university. The building will become part of our 'hidden curriculum,' that is, using the campus environment outside of the classroom to educate students about sustainability."

The building’s roof and site are both designed to lessen the heat island effect. Water use has been reduced by the installation of low-flow showerheads. The mechanical conditioning for the building is provided by a chilled water system consisting of an air-cooled chiller and gas fired boilers. Control systems regulate energy use and provide a measurement and verification plan. Outdoor air is circulated in accordance with guidelines of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The building follows strict specifications regarding the use of regional and low-emitting materials. Lighting controls allow occupants to adjust light levels to suit particular tasks.

Stubbs Muldrow Herin Architects of Mt. Pleasant designed the building, which was also a first LEED project for the company.