Rice Center Education Building

The Walter L. Rice Education Building, situated on a bluff overlooking the James River, is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum building in Virginia, the highest sustainability rating possible. It houses lecture and laboratory rooms for classes, a conference room and administrative offices, as well as an outdoor classroom pavilion. The building incorporates many sustainable features such as geothermal heating and cooling, solar electrical power generation, use of sustainable building materials, a vegetated roof, advanced water recycling, rain gardens and landscaping with native species.

Awards

Green Innovation Award – 2009 – Best Institutional Project – Higher Education – Virginia Sustainable Building Network

Project of the Year – 2009 – Mid-Atlantic Construction Magazine – Best Green Project of the Year

Honor Award, Excellence in Architecture – 2010 – Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects

Honor Award – 2010 – Central Virginia Chapter, American Institute of Architects

Award for New Construction – 2010 – James River Green Building Council (USGBC)

Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award – 2011 – Presented at 22nd annual Environment Virginia Symposium