HCC Pālamanui Campus Receives Top LEED Rating for Sustainable Design

Classroom at Hawai‘i Community College – Pālamanui. Photo by Andrew Richard Hara.

The Hawaiʻi Community College – Pālamanui (Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui) campus in West Hawai‘i has earned a platinum rating for Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council. Platinum is the highest rating possible in the sustainable building program.

“Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui is committed to being a community leader in West Hawai‘i in the areas of science, culture and conservation,” said Director of Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui Dr. Marty Fletcher. “By designing a campus to achieve the highest possible rating in the LEED sustainable building program we are demonstrating our commitment to those principles.”

The West Hawai‘i campus has enrolled more than 500 students during the last academic year in programs like Liberal Arts, Digital Media Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, and others. The campusʻ first building phase was completed in August 2015 and provides 24,000 square feet of instruction space including classrooms, culinary arts kitchens, science labs and more.

“Congratulations and thanks to our entire team for certifying another LEED Platinum building at UH,” said University of Hawai‘i President David Lassner. “The University of Hawaiʻi stands firmly committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and achieving our sustainability goals across our operations, education, scholarship, cultural connections and community engagement.”

The campus earned LEEDʻs top rating by incorporating numerous sustainable design elements including: on-site photovoltaics for electricity, efficient water systems, a wastewater recycling system, certified sustainable wood and low-emitting paints and adhesives.

Honolulu-based architecture firm Urban Works designed the campus. In 2016, the design won a Renaissance Building & Remodeling Grand Award from the Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i.

Students interested in enrolling at Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui for the Fall 2017 semester can visit hawaii.hawaii.edu/palamanui or call (808) 969-8816. The deadline to apply is August 1.