GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It was announced late Wednesday evening that Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium received the Florida Green Building Coalition’s (FGBC) “Florida Green” Commercial Building certification.
The project achieved 175 points out of a required 100 points, earning it a “gold-level” certification. This achievement demonstrated the commitment to construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of the project, improved health and well-being of the occupants and reduced operating costs.
KSP Stadium is the first building on Florida’s campus to receive a “gold-level” certification from the FGBC. Points were awarded by FGBC for each green certifying level – bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Numerical points are given for selecting and integrating individual environmentally friendly green products, best practices and sustainable techniques from a menu of available green options.
“When the nation’s top collegiate teams take the field, Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium will also be in the spotlight, demonstrating the applicability and adaptability of Florida Green Building Coalition green certification. The University of Florida has shown great leadership and a commitment to sustainability for making the stadium expansion a showcase for Florida Green construction,” said C.J. Davila, Florida Green Building Coalition Executive Director.
“Any time we set out to improve our athletic facilities we take into account the needs for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans. In addition, we are also committed to reducing the negative impact we have on the environment and improving sustainability throughout all of our facility projects. With the recent renovation to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, it’s exciting news that we were able to achieve the first ‘gold-level’ certification on campus from the Florida Green Building Coalition,” said Chip Howard, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs.
At the conclusion of the 2018 season, KSP Stadium underwent a $15-million renovation. The extensive renovation to the facility brought about a multitude of changes and new amenities for student-athletes, staff and fans alike. The brand new Rosemary Oberndorf Softball Training Facility, located in left field, houses the new team locker room, lounge, training room, coaches offices, film room, conference and equipment rooms.
When entering the stadium fans are now treated with an unobstructed view of the playing field thanks to the new elevated Rosemary Oberndorf Press Box. Along with the new view comes more shade, as two new shade structures flank down the first and third base lines. Also, fans are now able to watch the Gators play from anywhere around the ballpark thanks to the new 360-degree concourse that wraps around the field.
Also included in the renovation is a standalone covered four-lane bullpen past the left field wall, new concessions and bathroom areas down the third base line, the field level Stacey Nelson Plaza in left field and a berm area in right field.
The stadium expansion was visited, reviewed and certified by a third-party green verifier, Dr. Jennifer Languell of Trifecta Construction Solutions.
Unlike other national and international certifications such as U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED and Green Globes, FGBC are the only green certification standards developed with Florida-specific criteria. They address Florida’s hot-humid climate, distinctive environment, unique topography, resiliency, and natural disasters.
About the Florida Green Building Coalition
The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is the leading certifier of green projects in Florida. To date it has over 22,500 residential, commercial, high-rise, land developments and local governments participating in its certification programs. FGBC certification programs are the only standards developed with Florida-specific criteria. FGBC is a nonprofit 501(C)3 Florida corporation founded in 2000 dedicated to improving the built environment. Its mission is “to lead and promote sustainability with environmental, economic, and social benefits through regional education and certification programs.”
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