Green campuses

TCU named in green college guide

By Julie Thibodeaux

Texas Christian chini.

University is one of
the top green schools in the
country, according to the
Guide to 286 Green Col-
leges, which was published
last month by The Prince-
ton Review and the U.S.
Green Building Council.
The free guidebook pro-
files institutions of higher
education that have demon-
strated an above-average
commitment to environ-
mental sustainability in terms
of campus infrastructure,
activities and initiatives.
According to Becky Rich-
ards, professor of profes-
sional practice in environ-
mental science at TCU,
today’s students have
grown up environmentally
Becky Richards monitors energy and water consump-
tion at TCU’s Sherley Hall. Photo by Steve Edmonds.
savvy.
“Students want to see the
efforts the university is mak-
ing to be greener.”
Richards, who serves on
TCU’s Environmental Coun-
cil, teaches a course called
Chasing Carbon. In the
class, students work on
meeting goals set by the
American College and Uni-
versity Presidents’ Climate
Commitment, signed by
TCU Chancellor Victor Bos-
Some of TCU’s green
policies and initiatives in-
clude hosting a farmers
market a few times a year
where local produce is sold;
providing free bus passes
for students, faculty and
staff; offering a bike
share program; using
green-certified clean-
ing products and re-
quiring LEED-certifica-
tion on new construc-
tion.
TCU also offers a bache-
lor’s and three master’s
degrees in environmental
studies and a sustainability
certification for all majors.
The green college guide
can be downloaded on
www.usgbc.org.

Green built

The Art Institute of Fort Worth held its first classes last month in its new green
home at Wilcox Plaza at Green Oaks in west Fort Worth.
The 187,000-square-foot building was built by Wilcox Development on the
site of the old Green Oaks Hotel in 2009. The multi-tenant building received
gold-level LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
According to the property management company, GVA Cawley, some of its
green features include solar-powered water faucets and site water drainage
directed to planting areas.
In addition, recycled materials were used in construction and 70 percent of
existing trees were preserved.
Chad Williams, director of the Art Institute of Fort Worth, said when the
school was shopping for a site, they discovered the environmentally friendly
building and saw it as a good fit.
“Our interior design classes learn about eco-friendly materials and sustain-
able design,” he said. “It’s definitely important to our students.”
Art Institute of Fort Worth. Photo by Steve Edmonds.

16 PANACHE June 2010 www.panachemagazine.com