Ford Center Achieves LEED® Silver Certification

The Ford Center has achieved LEED® Silver Certification under the New Construction rating system. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The multi-use arena, which opened in November of 2011, is home to the Evansville Purple Aces and the Evansville IceMen and hosts a number of concerts and special events throughout the year.

“The Ford Center was meticulously designed with its environmental impact in mind,” said Brent Roberts, Populous Associate Principal. “Achieving LEED Silver Certification is an accomplishment the design, construction and management teams, as well as the Evansville community, can be proud of.”

“The LEED Silver Certification validates our community’s commitment to environmental quality and the quality of life for our citizens,” said Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. “It’s a credit to the design team and everyone involved in the project, from construction workers to the architects, many of whom came from this area.”

LEED-NC (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction) is a rating system that was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to guide and distinguish newly constructed, high performance buildings that lessen their environmental impact, are healthier for those who use the building and are more efficient to operate than their conventional counterparts.

“This is a monumental step for The Ford Center and the Evansville community,” said Valerie Romano, Planner at VPS Architecture. “As only the second LEED Silver Certified project in Evansville, we recognize the importance of the green building movement and our environmental impact during the construction process and long after.”

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, The Ford Center is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”