Kentucky Proud Park Awarded LEED Certification
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Proud Park, the home of UK baseball, has been awarded LEED certification for its environmental performance and sustainable design.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. Kentucky Proud Park is the third UK Athletics facility to be certified, joining Kroger Field and the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.
“Kentucky Proud Park is one of the most outstanding venues in college baseball, both in its amenities and in the sustainability of its design and construction,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “We are proud to see that fact recognized with LEED certification and thankful to our construction partners who made that possible.”
UK worked with RossTarrant Architects and associate architect HNTB, as well as consultant Staggs and Fisher, Brown+Kubican, Technical Design Group, CMTA and Ballpark Design Associates, to design a ballpark for a new game-day fan experiences and training facilities for student-athletes. Congleton-Hacker Company was the construction manager for Kentucky Proud Park.
“UK Athletics and the University have been great partners for sustainable design. Kentucky Proud Park is the third Athletics project in a row to achieve LEED certification,” said Greg Hosfield of RossTarrant Architects. “LEED accreditation was important to the University and it is great to see the stadium reducing energy use on campus. We hope to see more home runs each year for the Cats.”
Kentucky Proud Park achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Water saving efforts reduced annual potable water use by 30%. Energy consumption cost reductions are estimated to be 31.7% savings. Excellence in construction waste management resulted in diverting 75.56% of on-site generated construction waste from landfills. Recycled materials are used in 30.61% of the total building materials (by value) and 42.73% of the total building materials (by value) includes products and materials made and extracted within 500 miles of Kentucky Proud Park.
Construction was completed on Kentucky Proud Park prior to the 2019 season after groundbreaking in 2017. Complete with permanent seating for 2,500 as well as stone terraces, grass berms and a 360-degree concourse that bring its regular-season capacity to approximately 5,000, Kentucky Proud Park’s team areas give players and coaches everything they need to succeed while creating an ideal place for fans to support them.
About LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.
