DeLand, FL - Stetson University's newest building, the Marshall & Vera Lea Rinker Welcome Center, has won a state award for its sustainable features.
In June, Stetson's Welcome Center was recognized as the 2017 Outstanding Sustainability Project by the Florida Planning and Zoning Association (FPZA). The building's efficient use of land, ability to conserve water and energy and its aid in recharging ground water supplies put it above 5 other buildings in the Sustainability category.
“The thing that distinguished [the Rinker Welcome Center] the best was how they actually designed the building itself to fit into the environment to conserve and reduce energy,” says the soon-to-be FPZA State President, Helen LaValley. “The building incorporated the most design features out of all the projects.”
The idea for the building came about 5 years ago where Stetson promised "an iconic, sustainable building." The Welcome Center's sustainable and conservative features include:
The Welcome Center holds Stetson's Admissions and Enrollment Management which includes the Registrar, Bursar, Financial Planning, meeting rooms and Career and Professional Development.
In addition to the Sustainability award from FPZA, the Welcome Center has also won the local Surfcoast Chapter's 2016 Outstanding Sustainability Initiative Award last December as well as received the Green Globes Certification before it opened last fall.
The building was funded in part by the President of the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation, John Rinker, who honored his parents by naming the Welcome Center after them. In June, Rinker went to Naples with Bob Huth, Stetson's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Bob Libscomb, CEO of the Williams Company and the general contractor and Rob Gleason, Principle of Ro Jo Architecture who provided the design and engineering of the building.
“When we met with Mr. John Rinker, we made a commitment to him that we would build an iconic, sustainable building that would last 100 years,” says Stetson's Associate Vice President for Facilities Management, Al Allen. “This award certifies that we did everything that we shared with Mr. Rinker.”
Photo courtesy of Stetson University.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
