LEED-Platinum George W. Bush Presidential Center Opened To the Public

May 17, 2013- The George W. Bush Presidential Center opened May 1^st with a LEED-Platinum certification for a range of energy-saving and sustainable design features. The Bush Center, located on the Dallas campus of Southern Methodist University, is the first of all presidential libraries to reach the Platinum threshold.

The 226,000-square-feet library and museum was designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects and built by Manhattan Construction, a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Most building materials were locally or regionally sourced and contain at least 20 percent recycled content.

The Bush Center includes photovoltaic panels to produce 9.5 percent of the building’s energy demand, as well as solar hot-water panels that provide hot water throughout the facility. In several places, deep overhangs were included to reduce solar gain and provide shade during hot summers. The windows also contain an insulated glaze to reduce heating and cooling loads.

The roof contains rainwater-absorbing gardens and highly reflective materials to reduce the heat-island effect. A highly efficient HVAC system cuts down on electricity costs. Low-VOC-emitting finishes also were used inside the facility.

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