It is anticipated the new Recreation and Wellness Center building will be designated as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

To attain this top classification, the facility will have features that include, but are not limited to:

• Optimized energy performance


• Renewable energy production


• Green power


• Indoor water use reduction


• Light pollution reduction


• Low-emitting materials


• Indoor air quality assessment


• Bicycle facilities


“Sustainability is part of well-being,” said Tami Reilly, director of fitness and well-being. “This building – and it’s really much more than a building – will bring all of these holistic elements together.”

The facility is one small aspect of the university’s larger mission to be a leader in environmental sustainability.

"I’m excited that we are providing an experience that will improve a students’ wellness journey while also being environmentally sustainable," said Mike Medina, director of campus life for recreation.

This summer alone, the university has installed a rain garden to reduce runoff into the nearby Mill River; secured a grant to perform testing for pesticides, phthalates or plasticizers in the Quinnipiac River; and led a campus-wide pollinator research initiative.