Stadium earns LEED status

The $164 million renovation in 2011-12 to the 83-year-old venue garners energy and sustainability recognition.

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by The TCU Magazine staff
Updated: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Amon G. Carter Stadium, which reopened in September 2012 after a 22-month renovation, is one of the few NCAA football facilities in the nation to have LEED status. (Photography by Glen E. Ellman)

Amon G. Carter Stadium is home to the purple and white of the TCU Horned Frogs. Now, it can boast of another color — “green.”

The 83-year-old facility garnered LEED Silver certification level status this spring from the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating scale.

The stadium becomes TCU’s 10^th facility to earn LEED status and is among a select few NCAA football venues with the designation.

“We’re very pleased with the certification,” said Harold Leeman, associate director of major projects for the TCU Physical Plant. “It underscores TCU’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.”

The stadium, which opened in September 2012 after a 22-month, $164 million makeover, was designed by HKS Architects and constructed by Austin Commercial.

“It’s a first-class facility in every respect, and now it also is tops in the country in energy efficiency,” said T. Ross Bailey ’76 (Med ’78), associate athletics director for facilities and operations.

Highlights of the stadium’s “green-ness” include:

• The stadium location takes advantage of its urban site, providing walk-able access to community services and public transportation.
• Water usage has been reduced by more than 50 percent through the installation of dual flush toilets, pint-flush urinals and ultra low-flow lavatories.
• The stadium employs a number of integrated strategies to reduce its energy usage by nearly 14 percent while providing for greater comfort levels for its occupants.
  - Reduced the window-to-wall ratio for non-field viewing locations to below 30 percent.
  - Incorporated overhangs to minimize solar impact on suites.
  - A 67 percent energy reduction was achieved for interior lighting and incorporated continuous-dimming daylight harvesting controls and occupancy sensors.
  - Energy consumption for cooling is estimated to be reduced by 8 percent.
  - Demand Control Ventilation installed for increased fan comfort.
  - All suites and occupied spaces provide fans with ample daylight and views.
  - Occupants have also been given individual control over lighting.
• About 97 percent (28,636 tons) of the construction waste was diverted from landfills.
• More than 26 percent of the materials selected for the project include products with high-recycled content.
• Nearly 22 percent of the materials are regional.
• Indoor air quality was assured with a stringent Indoor Air Quality Management Plan during construction.
• The long-standing campus commitment to recycling extends into the stadium and fan experience with recycling bins for paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard items.