First LEED-certified stadium in the country

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — TCF Bank Stadium, home to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, has become the first football stadium in the country to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, according to Globe St.

The 50,805-seat stadium was built on a former brownfield site and carried a price tag of $288.5 million, the story stated.

University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks said: "TCF Bank Stadium is an historic project for the University of Minnesota and it was important to us to do it right. This designation, in particular, underscores the commitment of the Board of Regents and the leadership of the university to principles of sustainability, energy conservation and responsible stewardship of our environment and our resources."

Sustainable aspects of the stadium include: A reflective roof that reduces the heat island effect; a 50 percent reduction in the use of potable water for landscape irrigation; a 30 percent reduction of indoor potable water use; use of low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting materials; and recycling and reusing 98 percent of construction waste, the story noted.

The university wanted to stadium to exemplify their commitment to the environment, and receiving LEED certification at the Silver level shows just that, the story added.