FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Green Building Initiative recognized the University of Arkansas for two of its sustainable buildings and the environmental-friendly construction.

The Duncan Avenue Apartments and the Duncan Avenue Community Center on the university’s campus have both achieved Green Globe designations for sustainable design and construction. The Duncan Avenue Apartments building is the first apartment in the U.S. to receive Green Globes certification. The community center received two Green Globes.

The three-story apartment’s water-efficient equipment, high indoor air quality, effective lighting, thermal comfort and suitable acoustic conditions were the target of the Green Building Initiative’s recognition.

The Green Building Initiative recognized the two-story community center for its environmental purchasing. This included sustainable fixtures such as energy-efficient lighting fixtures and lamps and the improvement of storm-water runoff. Both buildings opened in fall 2008.

The Duncan Avenue Apartments and Community Center were designed and contracted by Allison Architects Inc., Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and Flintco Inc.

“We are very proud that Duncan is the first apartment to be Green Globes certified,” said Sallie Overbey, an architect for Allison Architects in Fayetteville, Ark.

Allison Architects had five alumni of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture work on the Duncan Avenue projects. Four of the graduates are LEED-accredited professionals. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a rating system development by the Green Building Council.

“The facility has been extremely well-received by the residents, and students are enthusiastic about living in an environmentally responsible environment,” Overbey said. “The entire university community was extremely supportive of this project.”

The Green Building Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the environment and reducing the waste associated with the construction of new buildings. The initiative recognizes buildings and architects that are committed to advancing and accelerating the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally-sustainable buildings. The institute is an accredited standards developer by the American National Standards Institute.