Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.78
Liaison Christa Rieck
Submission Date Jan. 3, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Houston
OP-3: Building Design and Construction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.38 / 3.00 Elizabeth Clark
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total floor area of newly constructed or renovated building space:
2,861,800 Square feet

Floor area of eligible building space designed and built in accordance with published green building codes, policies, and/or rating systems:
Floor area
Certified at the highest achievable level under a multi-attribute GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g., LEED BD+C Platinum or Certified Living Building) 0 Square feet
Certified at the 2nd highest level under a 4- or 5-tier, multi-attribute GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g., LEED BD+C Gold) 183,400 Square feet
Certified at mid-level under a 3- or 5-tier, multi-attribute GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g., BREEAM Very Good) 0 Square feet
Certified at a step above minimum level under ar 4- or 5-tier, multi-attribute GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g., LEED BD+C Silver) 187,000 Square feet
Certified at minimum level under a multi-attribute GBC rating system for design and construction (e.g., LEED BD+C Certified) 0 Square feet
Certified/verified at any level under a multi-attribute, non-GBC rating system for design and construction, a green building code, or a single-attribute rating system for design and construction 0 Square feet
Designed and built in accordance with a multi-attribute green building code, policy, guideline, or rating system, but not certified/verified 2,491,400 Square feet
Designed and built in accordance with a single-attribute green building code, policy, guideline, or rating system, but not certified/verified 0 Square feet
Total 2,861,800 Square feet

Percentage of newly constructed or renovated building space certified under a green building rating system for design and construction:
12.94

A list of new construction and major renovation projects that indicates the green building code, policy/guideline, or rating system that applies to each building:

In the last five reporting years, since 2019, the University of Houston has completed 2,861,800 square feet of new construction and major renovations.
For many years, the University’s design guidelines required new projects to be designed and built–but not certified–to LEED Silver standards. The list of projects completed under this “design to LEED” standard includes the renovated Fertita Center basketball arena, two new garages (Elgin Street Garage and University Gateway Garage), new Quad housing, the Hilton Hotel expansion and three major renovations (Science Building, Garrison Hall, Melcher LIfe Sciences). The total square footage designed and built to LEED standards, but not certified, in the last five years is 2,491,400 square feet.
In late 2019, the University changed its design standards to require LEED certification at Silver or better levels. Section 7, "Sustainable Design," of the University’s design guidelines outlines expectations for design teams (see link below).
New construction and major renovation projects recently completed and certified under the new standard include a new medical school (LEED Gold, 2023), a new law school (LEED Silver, 2023) and a major renovation of one of our oldest campus buildings, Roy G. Cullen Memorial Building (LEED Gold, 2023). These projects account for 370,400 square feet, or 12.9%, of the projects completed in the last five years.


An inventory of new construction and major renovation projects that indicates the green building code, policy/guideline, or rating system that applies to each building:
OP3_FY2023_GSF_DATA_FINAL.xlsx

Website URL where information about the institution’s green building design and construction program is available:
https://www.uh.edu/facilities-planning-construction/vendor-resources/owners-design-criteria/design-guidelines/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.