Mexico City, May 3, 2023.— Ciudad Panamericanahas achieved its second milestone as a sustainable campus by earning LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its first building, Phase I, with a total of 51 points at the Silver Level.
This achievement was made possible by demonstrating a reduction in negative environmental impacts, a reduction in atmospheric emissions through energy efficiency, excellent waste management and water conservation, as well as a high-quality indoor environment.
A LEED-certified building
The LEED Certification is an internationally recognized certification system for sustainable buildings created by the U.S. Green Building Council, which is represented in Mexico by SUMe (Sustentabilidad para México A.C.), an association of which the Universidad Panamericana has been a founding member since 2011.
To understand what the construction of Phase I of Ciudad Panamericana entailed, Architect Francisco López Gaona, Construction Manager, explains: “This project ensured sustainable management of the construction site without damaging the surrounding land, prioritizing open spaces and excellent rainwater management, as well as the efficient use and management of both potable water and reclaimed wastewater.”
Furthermore, it notes that, in terms of energy, “it is a highly energy-efficient and high-performance building with on-site renewable energy generation, designed to reduceCO2 emissionsinto the atmosphere during its operation.” It also states that, during construction, priority was given to indoor air quality in all spaces, “to provide students, faculty, and staff with healthy environments.”
A Sustainable University
Francisco states that each of the strategies for achieving the aforementioned characteristics“was incorporated into the building’s design, carefully addressed in the construction specifications, monitored during construction and commissioning, and documented so that certification could be obtained.”
Universidad Panamericana ’s commitment to having buildings with this type of certification goes hand in hand with its interest in providing an education based on values that contribute positively to building a better world.
In this regard, the architect states that the university “(…) seeks to ensure that its buildings minimize negative impacts on the environment, in accordance with the United Nations’ principles of sustainable development, and to set an example that it is possible to have buildings that mitigate environmental impacts.”
Steps to follow
Mexico ranks among the top 10 countries with the most LEED certifications (excluding the U.S. and Canada), with more than 600 certified projects. Ciudad Panamericana will continue to contribute to this effort, as it now aims to ensure that the next building on this campus—which will house the School of Health Sciences—is also sustainable.
“The fact that, since last year, the Ciudad UP campus has had its LEED credits approved makes it easier for every building constructed on this campus to continue demonstrating compliance and achieving certification for all future buildings, ”concludes Architect López Gaona.
