Stewardship is Good Business: Foster Campus Certified LEED Gold for Environmental Friendliness

An official LEED Gold plaque now resides in Baylor’s Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, home of the nationally ranked Hankamer School of Business (HSB).

The dynamic facility, which opened to faculty and students in August 2015, was awarded LEED Gold certification after satisfying rigorous standards that address the building’s environmental impact.

“LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is well aligned with our values at the Hankamer School of Business, so it was a priority from the very first day of planning, through the design process and during construction of our new home—the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation,” HSB Dean Terry S. Maness, BA ’71, MS ’72, said.

The Foster Campus achieved LEED Gold certification by implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Some of the specific features include:

• a solar-reflective roof;
• dimmable LED lighting;
• direct views of exterior and direct sunlight in 215 out of 266 faculty/staff offices;
• daylighting controls that allow individuals to adjust the level of lighting based on brightness throughout the day;
• natural lighting for all interior offices through glass walls and doors;
• individual thermostat controls;
• use of low-emitting materials to reduce concentrations of chemical contaminants; and
• sustainable landscaping and irrigation systems that increase water efficiency and reduce the burden on municipal water supply and wastewater systems.