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Jan. 30, 2013 — The renovation of Carr Hall at Allegheny College, which created the Richard J. Cook Center for Environmental Science, has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Gold certification recognizes the renovation’s exceptional use of sustainable materials, including those with recycled content, rapidly renewable fibers and a cradle-to-cradle manufacturing model; healthy indoor air quality; unique indoor landscaping, a living wall and aquaponics systems; extensive daylighting from solar tubes and skylights; and significant energy savings due to building envelope improvements, heat recovery techniques and energy-efficient lighting.

The Richard J. Cook Center opened in August as the new home for Allegheny College’s Department of Environmental Science, one of the oldest and most respected environmental science programs in the country.

Carr Hall is also Allegheny College’s showcase project for the White House’s Better Buildings Challenge, which the college joined in 2011. Allegheny was among only seven colleges and universities nationwide to join the challenge, through which Allegheny will reduce energy consumption 20 percent by 2020 in 1.3 million square feet of building space across their campus.