San Pedro I awarded prestigious LEED green building certification

AUGUST 21, 2023 — San Pedro I, home of the UTSA School of Data Science and the National Security Collaboration Center, has been awarded a prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. As the first building at UTSA to reach LEED Gold, San Pedro I is paving the way for a more sustainable approach to new campus buildings.

San Pedro I is a world-class facility, leading a new era of high-tech education, research and innovation in Texas. Located at 506 Dolorosa St. along San Pedro Creek in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the $91.8 million facility is advancing economic development in the urban core and creating prosperity for San Antonians.

UTSA achieved LEED Gold certification at San Pedro I through thoughtful attention to energy efficiency and sustainable site development as the result of collaboration with partners at Whiting-Turner, Jacobs Engineering, and Overland Partners. With a focus on indoor/outdoor connections and reconfigurable spaces for multipurpose use, the building was designed with innovation and adaptability in mind to serve UTSA students, faculty and staff downtown for decades to come.

“The LEED Gold designation exemplifies UTSA’s commitment to thoughtful and sustainable growth in downtown San Antonio.”

"The LEED Gold designation exemplifies UTSA’s commitment to thoughtful and sustainable growth in downtown San Antonio,” said Veronica Salazar, senior vice president for Business Affairs and Chief Enterprise Development Officer. “As we create new spaces for students to thrive, we are focused on creating healthy, efficient, and cost-saving buildings that will serve the community into the future.”

LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. LEED-certified buildings are built with a focus on sustainability through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health. Building projects earn points for achieving a range of sustainability, efficiency, and occupant health measures. San Pedro I earned enough points to achieve LEED Gold, second highest tier of certification.

As UTSA continues to grow, careful thought is given to how campus spaces will contribute to the wellbeing of the campus community and surrounding communities. While San Pedro I is the first building at UTSA to achieve LEED certification, the university is working to achieve LEED designations for all new buildings.

“Our goal going forward is for all new campus buildings to aim for at least LEED Silver certification,” said Corrina Green, senior associate vice president for Real Estate, Construction and Planning and Facilities. “Our efforts now will help create an active, sustainable campus that both students and community members will be drawn to and want to spend time in for many years to come.”

San Pedro I, completed in the fall of 2022, was the first project in UTSA’s phased, 10-year approach to accelerating the development of its Downtown Campus as an active, engaging space that integrates student life with the vibrant downtown environment. Public art, such as the sculpture titled Drum Rhythm No. 11 by Fletcher C. Benton installed on the northwest corner of the building, is essential to fostering a beautiful public space. Two new murals by local artists, Cristina Sosa Noriega and Mark Hogensen, have recently been installed on the outside of the building, helping to enhance the cultural connections to the downtown San Antonio community.

Last November, UTSA announced plans for San Pedro II, which will be constructed across the San Pedro Creek from San Pedro I, and which will introduce additional interdisciplinary and collaborative programs to empower students for fulfilling careers through immersive, hands-on learning experiences. San Pedro II will feature a Sustainability Garden, an outdoor, interactive space that will engage students and the community in sustainability.

The two buildings are part of larger place-making efforts to revitalize this historic area of downtown, which includes the recent redevelopment and addition of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park. San Pedro I and II will connect classrooms and meeting spaces inside with the outdoor venues and public art of the park, creating an ecosystem that supports students and the community as they look toward the future of San Antonio.

— Brandie Yale