The Environment and Natural Resources 2 (ENR2) building at the University of Arizona has achieved LEED platinum certification, the highest possible certification and one of the most distinguished sustainability designations in the country.
Building planning began in 2003 with richärd+bauer architecture serving as the design architect, GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. serving as Architect and Engineer of Record, and Hensel Phelps Construction Co. serving as the contractor. Construction was completed during the summer of 2015.
“LEED platinum was the goal of the team from the beginning of design and we achieved that,” said Henry Johnstone, chief engineer on the ENR2 team. “Platinum acknowledges that we went the extra mile.”
ENR2 gained points for its water efficiency, waste management, use of sustainable materials, indoor environmental quality and innovative design.
The building has an outdoor air system and induction coils, or active chilled beams — an innovative system that, when combined, works together to heat, cool and ventilate the building.  The building also is efficient in its water usage, resulting in a 40 percent reduction in the amount of water used annually. The water harvesting system is expected to capture 260,000 gallons of rainwater runoff each year.
“What I’m most proud of, though, is that the building really has achieved actual, tangible energy and water savings in a space that really communicates the idea of sustainable building design,” Johnstone said. “It’s more than just a building — you can really appreciate and can see what sustainability can be and look like. ”