KU Endowment receives LEED certification for its Kansas City office building

The 30,000-square-foot building at 4125 Rainbow Blvd. opened in spring 2011. Its third floor houses KU Endowment’s Kansas City-based offices. KU Endowment leases the first two floors to KU Medical Center’s Center for Health Behavior Neuroscience, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and Department of Family Medicine.

Dale Seuferling, president of KU Endowment, said the building reflects KU Endowment’s focus on energy conservation. “It is an honor to be recognized for this building’s energy conservation measures,” said Seuferling. “We appreciate the successful efforts of everyone who worked together to design and create this environmentally friendly building.”

The LEED rating system is a voluntary standard to support and certify successful sustainable building design, construction and operations. The building’s many eco-friendly features include a highly efficient heating and air-conditioning system utilizing geothermal heat pumps and displacement ventilation, light pollution reduction, 40 percent water use reduction, 20 percent regional materials, 10 percent recycled content and LED exterior lighting. Special attention was given to the solar heat gain by reducing the amount of glazing on the east and west elevations and utilizing a highly reflective roofing surface.