The new multipurpose Bentley Arena, the most environmentally sustainable ice arena in the U.S. and the first standalone ice arena to earn the LEED platinum certification, has received another national honor for its environmentally sustainable design and construction. The arena was one of three finalists for the annual USG NACDA Sustainability Award given by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the USG Corporation, a manufacturer of building products.
The award recognizes NCAA member institutions, honoring athletics directors and their universities for incorporating sustainable practices and materials into their athletics facilities. Bentley shares the prestigious recognition with UCLA, which was selected as the overall winner, and Georgia State University.
Bentley’s new state-of-the-art arena hosts the university’s NCAA Division I hockey team and prominent university events such as career fairs, high-profile speakers, alumni events and concerts. The 76,000-square-foot arena marks Bentley’s continued rise as a modern, nationally-recognized business university and is a prime example of sustainable design and energy efficiency.
After opening in February 2018, the building became the first standalone ice arena to earn the LEED platinum certification, the highest possible rating, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainable features include: 1,400 solar panels on the roof, which provide 40 percent of the building’s annual electricity needs; high-efficiency LED lighting; and an innovative heat recovery loop that captures waste heat from the arena’s ice-making equipment and uses it to heat the hot water system and for space heating. The arena is expected to use approximately 48 percent less water than buildings of similar size and capacity due to the installation of the most efficient water-saving plumbing fixtures on the market.
“The Bentley Arena’s best-in-the-nation environmentally sustainable design is a point of pride for athletics and the entire Bentley community,” said Bob DeFelice, Bentley University’s director of athletics. “”We’re thrilled by this latest national honor for Bentley Arena as an environmentally-friendly venue.”
Read About Bentley’s Commitment to Going Carbon Neutral by 2030
ABOUT BENTLEY UNIVERSITY
Bentley University is one of the nation’s leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader with the technical skills, global perspective and ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. Bentley’s diverse arts and sciences program combined with an advanced business curriculum prepares graduates to make an impact in their chosen fields. The university enrolls approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. For more information, visit www.bentley.edu.