Facilities Design & Construction (FDC) is committed to being a leader in sustainable design and construction through the use of green materials, systems and methods.

Goals in providing high quality sustainable facilities:

• Reduce waste generation and pollution
• Enhance occupant comfort, health, and productivity
• Utilize appropriate Sonoran Desert design
• Reduce energy, water use, and local infrastructure impact
• Maximize longevity and efficiency

The University of Arizona has long been a leader in designing and constructing buildings using strategies which reduce energy and water use and improve productivity and health benefits. Before the terms "sustainable" or "green" became widely used, the University of Arizona was already designing and constructing high performance, energy efficient buildings intended to last 50 to 100 years. FDC led the University's development of Design & Specification Standards (DSS) in 1997 to require design and construction utilizing high quality materials, systems and methods. These standards are continually updated and improved to reflect our commitment to sustainable design.

As a way of validating and measuring these efforts, The University is registering projects with the U.S. Green Building Council for LEED Certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a standardized, nationally-accepted system for certifying the sustainability of design, construction, and operations of buildings.

Examples of sustainable elements typically incorporated in FDC projects