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UNT Stadium First to Earn LEED Platinum for New Construction

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DENTON — The University of North Texas’ (UNT) Apogee Stadium recently earned LEED Platinum certification, marking the first newly constructed collegiate football stadium in the nation to achieve the Platinum level.

The UNT System led the project, with design by Dallas-based HKS Sports & Entertainment Group and construction by the Dallas office of Manhattan Construction Co.

"As a university system, we are committed to building campuses that minimize the use of natural resources and don’t harm the environment," said Lee Jackson, chancellor of the UNT System. "We want to provide all students, faculty and staff members on our campuses with buildings that are first-class in every way, including reduced environmental impact."

The UNT System’s commitment to green building stems from a Jackson-backed initiative to construct future buildings that meet or exceed the latest efficiency and environmental standards.

The stadium joins three LEED Gold-certified buildings on the university’s campuses: the flagship campus in Denton, UNT Dallas and the Health Science Center in Fort Worth. Two additional buildings await certification.

LEED-certified buildings are practical because the university uses its buildings for 50 to 75 years, said University President V. Lane Rawlins.

"By building in this manner, the sustainable features of the buildings pay for themselves through their efficiencies within eight years,” he said. “Plus, environmentally responsible buildings mean healthier buildings with better air quality.”

The 31,000-seat Apogee Stadium features luxury suites, an amenity-filled club level, a Spirit Store, a corporate deck and an end-zone seating area. In addition to hosting university events, the stadium serves the North Texas region as a venue for outdoor concerts, community events, high school games and band competitions.

In December, the stadium will see the completion of three wind turbines that will feed the electrical grid that powers the stadium. The State Energy Conservation Office is funding the turbine project with a $2 million grant.
Greg Whittemore, project manager with the HKS Sports & Entertainment Group, said the stadium was designed with sustainability at the forefront.

“A football stadium is not the typical LEED Platinum candidate. It took creative thinking on the parts of the design and construction teams in conjunction with the UNT System and North Texas Athletics,” he said. “Today, the Apogee Stadium’s LEED Platinum status is a testament to the team’s dedication to sustainability."

The high-performance building is designed to reduce energy cost by 25 percent, according to Chris Mundell, the LEED project consultant from HKS.

“From the wind turbines to the native landscaped surroundings to the eco-friendly building materials, Apogee Stadium is a one-of-a-kind green venue,” he said. “The wind turbines will also substantially offset the external energy demand."

Sustainable Design Highlights:

Enhancing the Site and its Surroundings

  • More than 50 percent of the stadium site is preserved or restored with landscaping native to the north Texas climate.
  • The natural, park-like setting allows the community to enjoy the venue year-round. Permeable pavers, combined with the native landscaped site, reduce stormwater runoff and minimize the heat island effect.
  • Campus bus stops, secured bicycle storage and preferred parking spaces for carpoolers promote travel to the stadium by alternative means of transportation. Paved walkways and bike paths through the park-like environment connect back to the main campus, encouraging fans to walk or bike to stadium events.

Reducing Water and Energy Consumption

  • It is estimated the three wind turbines will provide approximately 500,000 kilowatt hours per year for the UNT Eagle Point power grid, effectively eliminating the emission of 323 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually into the atmosphere. A web-based monitoring system will provide details on energy production, carbon reduction statistics and empirical data that can be used for both educational and research purposes at UNT.
  • The high-performance stadium design uses energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting equipment, reducing energy consumption by 25 percent.
  • Low flow plumbing fixtures — such as sinks, toilets, urinals and showers — will reduce water consumption by more than 52 percent.

Promoting Sustainable and Recycled Materials

  • The stadium’s contractor recycled 75 percent of the construction waste materials, preventing it from being dumped in a landfill.
  • Of the products and materials used in the construction of the stadium, 20 percent were made with recycled content and more than 47 percent were manufactured locally.
  • A higher percentage of fly ash was substituted for cement to construct the concrete portions of the project, further reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Improving Indoor Environmental Quality

  • Low VOC-emitting materials — such as adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings and flooring — were used to improve the indoor air quality for building occupants.
  • Ninety percent of regularly occupied indoor spaces features natural daylight and views to the outdoors.
  • UNT implemented green policies and procedures for stadium operations and maintenance.

Project Team:
Architect: HKS Sports & Entertainment Group
LEED Consultant: HKS DesignGreen
Construction Manager: Manhattan Construction Co.
Interior Design: HKS Commercial Interiors
Mechanical Engineer: Smith Seckman Reid Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Aguirre Roden
Civil Engineer: Jaster-Quintanilla
Structural Engineers: Rogers Moore Engineering/Walter P Moore
Landscape Architect: Caye Cook & Associates
Commissioning Agent: Henneman Engineering Inc.