Sustainable Campus

Green Buildings

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus is committed to implementing sustainable design principles  on all campus buildings with the aim of conserving energy, water as well as administering superior healthy spaces to study, work, and live.

Green Building Goals

  • All new buildings should meet LEED Gold, while any newly renovated buildings should meet LEED Silver standards, or equivalent green building standards as a minimum.
  • All chemicals and equipment used for cleaning must meet or exceed the U.S. Green Building Council LEED’s guidelines and must be proven sustainable products.
  • Reduce total campus building electricity consumption.
  • Integrate campus-wide energy management system for existing buildings.
  • Evaluate  and pursue other infrastructure projects as potential Envision projects under the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Projects/Current efforts 

1. LEED Certified Buildings

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across several categories namely;  CO2 emissions reduction, energy savings, water efficiency, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

LEED Rating Levels

leed rating levels

See The Data

Table Caption
Building Name Gross Square Foot (GSF) LEED Status
Bayboro Hall 35,669 None
Campus Welcome Center 354  None 
Central Utility Plant 3,392  None 
 Coquina Hall 35,190  None 

Davis Hall          Sustainable Design Features

69,738

LEED Silver ID+C (v4)

Fifth Avenue Parking Facility  360,000  None
Harbor Hall  30,472  None
Haney Sailing Center 2,372  None
Lynn Pippenger Hall  68,000

LEED Gold                        New Construction (v3)  Completed: 2016                  LEED Scorecard 

One 5th Avenue South Bldg  3,913  None
Peter Rudy Wallace 9,636  None
Pianoman Building   5,729  None
Plant Operations & Receiving   8,916  None
Nelson Poynter Memorial Library   115,040  None
Poynter Warehouse Lab  15,000 LEED Platinum

Major Renovation (v4)  Completed: 2017          LEED Scorecard  

Residence Hall One 125,000  None
Student Life Center  30,720  None
Science & Technology   34,072

LEED Gold                        New Construction (v2.2)    Completed: 2009          LEED Scorecard 

Snell Historic House   3,610  None
Special Services Building  2,973  None

The Osprey

Sustainable Design Features

 127,000

LEED Silver                    New Construction (v4)  Completed: 2020          LEED Scorecard 

The Terrace   4,627 None
University Research Labs   2,880  None
University Student Center  92,770 LEED Gold                        New Construction (v3)  Completed: 2012          LEED Scorecard

2. LEED GA Training & Certification Series

This is a professional development program offered in Spring and Fall semesters to provide students the opportunity to become a LEED Green Associate at a subsidized rate.

Participating students gain valuable skills which they get to apply on-campus  through sustainability projects intended to reduce our carbon footprint. 

Become a LEED Green Associate.

 3. Green Cleaning

The Green Cleaning program is an ongoing project at USF St. Petersburg campus. The goal of this initiative is to ensure USF St. Petersburg campus is using the most sustainable, eco-friendly, and nontoxic cleaning products in alignment with its sustainability mission. 

*The program involves periodical training offered to the custodial staff about the environmental, health and cost benefits of green cleaning, as well as about green cleaning products, equipment and techniques on campus.