McAninch Arts Center receives LEED certification

The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

COD began a 14-month, $35 million renovation of the MAC in fall 2012 to update its three performance spaces, construct a new art gallery and outdoor patio stage, and make improvements to the infrastructure and patron service areas. Upgrades include a new roof, radiant heating and the replacement of all exterior glass with energy-efficient glass. Wight & Company, which served as the original architects of the McAninch Arts Center in 1986, returned to design the renovations.

"College of DuPage has been committed to incorporating green building practices into all of its renovation and construction projects during the last decade," said Julie Carey, COD Project Manager in Facilities Planning and Development. "The MAC was no exception, and we are proud that another College facility has received this designation."

LEED certification for the MAC includes the following:

• Use of green power

• Re-use of more than 95 percent of the existing exterior envelope and structural elements within the building

• Re-use of more than 70 percent of existing interior non-structural elements

• Diversion of more than 93 percent of waste from landfills

• Use of materials (11 percent) that featured recycled content

The MAC renovation was funded by the $168 million referendum that voters of District 502 passed in November 2010.

Other College of DuPage projects to receive LEED certification are the Health and Science Center and the Campus Maintenance Center, LEED Gold; the Technical Education Center and Seaton Computing Center, LEED Silver; and the Homeland Security Education Center, LEED Certification.