University of Hawai’i Mānoa’s RISE Center Earns LEED Gold Certification
By Fay Harvey
HONOLULU — The Walter Dods Jr. RISE Center, a six-story, live-learn-work facility at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UH), has officially achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
To achieve LEED Gold standards, the $70-million facility underwent a comprehensive third-party review and was evaluated on indoor environmental quality, water efficiency, site sustainability, transportation, energy and atmosphere, and materials and resources.
The project demonstrates environmental awareness through its innovative design. Incorporating LED lighting, efficient HVAC systems, a 60-square-meter solar water-heating system and a 104-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system contribute to a more than 30% reduction in energy consumption. In addition, 30% of indoor water use has been reduced through low-flow fixtures, and more than 75% of construction waste was diverted from landfills through recycling and reusing during the building’s construction.
“RISE’s LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the USGBC, in a statement. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. RISE is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.”
Low-emission and non-toxic materials were used throughout the design and construction process, which was done in a private-public partnership (P3) between the Honolulu office of Hunt Companies Hawaiʻi, UH and the UH Foundation. The Honolulu office of Moss served as the general contractor, while local partners The Wilhelm Group served as the construction manager and Design Partners Inc. led design.
“Achievement of LEED Gold marks a significant milestone for RISE Center,” said Project Lead Mike Lam, senior vice president of Hunt Companies Hawaiʻi, in a statement. “Creation of a sustainable facility reflects the vision of the public-private partnership team, who were committed to developing a 21st century facility with a reduced carbon footprint that offers a healthy indoor environment for the students, educators and community members who use it every day.”
The RISE Center, which stands for Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs, houses 374 UH undergraduate and graduate students while dually serving as a dynamic collaborative space for students and faculty of all disciplines on the bottom floors. Development of the multi-use building was spearheaded by UH’s Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) at the Shidler College of Business.
The building opened its doors in 2023 and quickly earned accolades. The RISE Center has received several national and local awards, including the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks Hawaiʻi’s 27th Annual Kukulu Hale Public/Government Project Award, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Grand Overall Winner and Best Large Project at its 2024 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Awards as well as CoStar’s 2024 Redevelopment of the Year in its Impact Awards Hawaii’i program.
“This LEED Gold certification underscores our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said John Han, vice president for administration and chief financial officer at UH Foundation, in a statement. “RISE was designed with the intent to have a smaller environmental footprint by reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy efficiency, and safeguarding the health and environment of the project’s surroundings.”