Education

New Arena Earns LEED Platinum

Bentley Arena

Waltham, MA – The new, state-of-the-art multipurpose Bentley Arena, built by Suffolk Construction, is the first standalone ice arena to earn the LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible rating, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

The award for the recently opened, 76,000sf arena highlights the building’s sustainable design and energy efficiency and Bentley University’s continued rise as an innovative, nationally recognized business university.

The standout sustainable features of the arena include a 504 kilowatt, rooftop solar array; innovative technology that captures heat generated from the rink’s ice-making equipment to heat water throughout the building; more glass windows than a typical arena; high-efficiency LED lighting with smart, motion-detecting controls; ice-making and air conditioning systems that use zero CFC-based refrigerants; and the highest-efficiency plumbing fixtures on the market.

At least 50% of wood used in the building is sourced from forests with certified sustainable forestry practices. About 10% of construction and finish materials were locally sourced, and about 20% of construction and finish materials contain recycled content.

The sustainable features of the arena include:

  • A 504 kilowatt, rooftop solar array developed by Rivermoor Energy that will generate 40 percent of the building’s annual electricity needs.
  • Innovative technology that captures heat generated from the rink’s ice-making equipment to heat water throughout the building.
  • More glass windows than a typical arena, allowing for more natural light that decreases the amount of electricity needed to light the building’s interior.
  • High-efficiency LED lighting with smart, motion-detecting controls that turn off lights when no one is present to sharply reduce electricity usage.
  • Ice-making and air conditioning systems that use zero CFC-based refrigerants. Chlorofluorocarbons or “CFCs” have been found to destroy the planet’s stratospheric ozone layer.
  • The highest-efficiency plumbing fixtures on the market, including waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, and low-flow faucets and showers to reduce the demand for water.
  • At least 50% of wood used in the building is sourced from forests with certified sustainable forestry practices
  • About 10% of construction and finish materials were locally sourced and about 20% of construction and finish materials contain recycled content.

“At Suffolk we foster a corporate culture that embraces innovation and environmentally sustainable practices, which is why we are thrilled to have partnered with Bentley University to help make their dream for this incredible new arena a reality,” said John Fish, chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction.