The Richard A. Berman Students’ Center at Manhattanville College has received a “Gold Rating” from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The rigorous and detailed LEED rating report for the Students’ Center singled out several noteworthy sustainability practices, including water efficiency, energy performance, design innovation and indoor environmental quality.

“As evidenced by this marvelous recognition for our wonderful, environmentally sound building, Manhattanville retains a strong programmatic interest in sustainability and responsible stewardship of our natural resources,” said Richard Berman, outgoing President of Manhattanville College.

“The Center symbolizes our commitment to educating our community about the importance of sustainability,” added Dr. Molly Easo Smith, incoming president of the College.

“It is part of a wide tapestry of environmental accomplishments on our campus, which includes a program in Environmental Science, the Ohnell Environmental Center, and our beautiful stone church redesigned by Maya Lin,” she added.

The stunning new Student Center, completed in 2008, designed by Peter Gisolfi Associates, an award-winning architectural firm in Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y., houses a performance center, fitness facility, lounge, dance studio, radio station, and art gallery. It is constructed of natural, locally obtained, non-toxic materials. Solar collectors generate over 10 percent of the building’s electricity and it requires a little less than half of the total energy needed by a code compliant building of the same size.

LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based standard to support and certify successful green building design, construction and operations and promotes integrated, whole-building design practices in the building industry. As a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for high performance green buildings, LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

About Manhattanville College:
Manhattanville College is an independent, co-educational liberal arts institution whose mission is to educate ethically and socially responsible leaders for the global community. Located just 30 minutes from New York City, Manhattanville serves 1,700 undergraduate students and 1,200 graduate students from 76 countries and 48 states. Founded in 1841, the College offers more than 50 undergraduate areas of study in the arts and sciences and has one of the largest teacher education programs in New York State.

(Press release coutesy of Jodi Burack/Giles Communications.)