The Hawaiʻi Community College–Pālamanui has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest rating possible in the sustainable building program.
“Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui is committed to being a community leader in West Hawaiʻi in the areas of science, culture and conservation,” said Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui Director Marty Fletcher. “By designing a campus to achieve the highest possible rating in the LEED sustainable building program we are demonstrating our commitment to those principles.”
“Congratulations and thanks to our entire team for certifying another LEED Platinum building at UH,” said University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner. ”The University of Hawaiʻi stands firmly committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and achieving our sustainability goals across our operations, education, scholarship, cultural connections and community engagement.”
More about the Pālamanui campus
Hawaiʻi CC–Pālamanui is the West Hawaiʻi campus of Hawaiʻi Community College with more than 500 students enrolled during the past academic year in programs such as liberal arts, digital media arts, hospitality and tourism and more. The first phase of Hawaiʻi CC—Pālamanui was completed in August 2015 and includes 24,000 square feet of learning space comprised of classrooms, culinary arts kitchens, science labs and more.
The campus earned the LEED Platinum rating by incorporating numerous sustainable design elements in the facility. This includes on-site photovoltaics for electricity; efficient use of water, including a “living machine” natural wastewater recycling system; certified sustainable wood; low-emitting paints and adhesives and much more.
The campus was designed by Honolulu-based architecture firm Urban Works. In 2016 the design won a Renaissance Building and Remodeling Grand Award for new commercial construction from the Building Industry Association of Hawaiʻi.
This is the second Hawaiʻi CC building to earn a LEED rating. Hale Aloha on the Manono campus in Hilo earned a LEED gold rating for a renovation project that incorporated many sustainable design features such as a green roof and use of recycled materials.
—By Thatcher Moats
