Stuit Hall, which serves as a hub for the clinical psychology program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology, has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED is the nationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of eco-friendly, sustainable buildings. It provides independent verification that the building has been renovated in an environmentally responsible matter, and will be a healthy place to work.

"We're thrilled to be part of the university's efforts to increase environmental sustainability on campus," says Jodie Plumert, professor and department chair of psychology. "It's especially exciting to see a beautiful old building like Stuit Hall become an energy efficient workplace."

Formerly the Old Music Building, Stuit Hall was named after CLAS Dean Emeritus Dewey Stuit, who served as dean from 1947 to 1977. The hall is the first LEED renovation on campus, completed in 2010. Located on the corner of Jefferson and Gilbert streets, the building incorporates daylighting, a rain garden to capture storm water from the roof, occupancy sensors to control electric lights, new insulation and windows, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) and formaldehyde-free products, energy-efficient mechanicals, and recycling storage and collection centers on every floor.

"Using the LEED framework for major renovations is a way to transform older buildings into models of sustainability and energy efficiency. Stuit Hall is a great example of that," says Liz Christiansen, director of the UI Office of Sustainability.

Three other UI buildings—the Beckwith Boat House, the Sports Medicine Clinic, and the State Hygienic Laboratory—have received LEED certification at the gold level. LEED building certification is one of the ways the UI is seeking to achieve its 2020 Vision goal of net-negative energy growth on campus.