UTSA earns STARS Gold rating for sustainability achievements

MARCH 28, 2024 — The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education has awarded UTSA with a Gold rating on its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS).

The award, the second-highest tier on STARS’ five-point rating system, recognizes UTSA’s culture of sustainability, which has shaped the institution’s successful growth in recent years and promises to contribute to the wellbeing of the campus community into the future.

The STARS program is the most widely recognized framework worldwide for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. The system evaluates achievements in five key areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.

“Sustainable efforts are a major part of UTSA’s commitment to be a responsible steward of its unique environmental and cultural assets.”

A prime example of UTSA’s commitment to sustainability is the Campus Master Plan, which strives for connected, mixed use, resource-efficient campuses that support health, wellness and prosperity.

“Sustainable efforts are a major part of UTSA’s commitment to be a responsible steward of its unique environmental and cultural assets,” said Veronica Salazar, UTSA executive vice president for  business affairs and chief enterprise development officer. “These efforts include enhancing campus walkability and bikeability, increasing renewable energy infrastructure, retrofitting buildings for optimal efficiency and establishing a LEED Silver standard for all new construction exceeding $10 million.”

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most widely used green building rating system in the world, focuses on sustainability through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health.

UTSA exceeded its LEED Silver goal on one of its latest projects, San Pedro I, which opened in 2022 and achieved LEED Gold, the second highest tier of certification.

Designed and constructed with thoughtful attention to energy efficiency and sustainable site development, the building features indoor/outdoor connections and reconfigurable spaces for multipurpose use, facilitating an adaptable environment suited to serve occupants for many years to come. As the first building at UTSA to achieve LEED Gold, San Pedro I has paved the way for a more sustainable approach to new campus buildings.

“Our LEED certification is a testament to the incredible work of executive vice president for Business Affairs and chief enterprise development officer Veronica Salazar and associate vice president of Real Estate, Construction and Planning Corrina Green and their work with our architects at Jacobs and Overland Partners, as well as contractor Whiting-Turning, to realize this important design goal for San Pedro I,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “I applaud their collective efforts, as they continue to advance San Pedro I—an engaging, compelling and wonderful learning and research space in the heart of downtown San Antonio.”

San Pedro II, currently under construction, likewise follows a design guided by stewardship and sustainability. The two buildings are part of larger placemaking efforts to revitalize downtown San Antonio’s historic San Pedro Creek area.

UTSA’s STARS Gold rating illustrates the university’s commitment to leverage data-driven approaches and promote knowledge to ensure a sustainable future, pairing institutional growth with the intentional design of spaces that enhance the campus experience and facilitate meaningful engagement between Roadrunners and the local community.

— Elyse Brown