North Metro Tech Plans First LEED-Certified Campus Building

ACWORTH, Ga. — The new $8.7 million health education center at North Metro Technical College will be the first green facility at a state technical college.

The 56,000-square-foot facility, which will provide space for student training in healthcare and related fields, is earmarked to receive LEED gold certification upon its scheduled completion in fall 2008.

Designed by The Facility Group, of Atlanta, the center will utilize energy- and water-efficient technology, be built of environmentally friendly materials and include natural daylighting. The building may also include a stormwater management system to collect and filter rainwater runoff for irrigation purposes.

School officials hope the center’s commitment to sustainability will help strengthen the college’s environmental horticulture program, which they anticipate will be a major growth area in the future.

The building layout will include pedestrian-friendly landscapes and gathering areas to encourage student-faculty interaction and academic involvement, while interior spaces will be tailored to meet specific program needs.

Featuring a high-tech, modern design, the center is intended to complement the existing campus buildings and serve as a landmark building for the college, which is located adjacent to the highly trafficked Interstate 75.