College of San Mateo’s new Health & Wellness Building, which opened in 2010, has been honored with the 2011 Sustainable San Mateo County Green Building Award for Non Residential. Sponsored by Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC), San Mateo County RecycleWorks and the San Mateo County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the award recognizes outstanding construction projects designed and built in accordance with principles of sustainable resource use and environmental sensitivity. “We are extremely proud that the Health and Wellness Building has received this important recognition. It underscores our college district’s commitment to build sustainable campus communities that will ultimately contribute to a greener future,” said Richard Holober, president of the Board of Trustees of the San Mateo County Community College District.”

CSM’s Health and Wellness Building has earned the coveted LEED-Gold designation

by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Institute. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The 88,000 square foot building incorporated a number of sustainable design and construction elements which qualified it for LEED-Gold rating: the use of reused concrete, structural steel framing, linoleum floors with a high level of recycled material, sun-shading devices to reduce energy consumption and the use of outside air in air-handling units. Furthermore, conservation measures have reduced water use by approximately 35 percent below conventionally built structures.

The college will be presented with the award on March 10 at the 12th annual Sustainable San Mateo County Awards Event. At the event, a SSMC produced video highlighting the green and sustainable features of the Health & Wellness Building will be shown.