BEREA, KY.—Berea College announced that Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant, a regional landmark owned and operated by the college, has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first LEED certified hotel in Kentucky as well as the Appalachian region, and one of 21 LEED Gold or Platinum hotels in America.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system was designed by USGBC to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings and is the nation’s preeminent certification program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Boone Tavern, built by Berea College in 1909 as a campus guest house, has for decades been known for traditional hospitality and fine dining. It is officially designated a historic property by two national organizations. After nearly 100 years of operation, the hotel underwent a $11.3 million full-scale renovation during 2008 to 2009 to make significant upgrades to the building’s infrastructure, improve efficiency and lower operating costs, and to add modern technologies and other features for improved guest service and comfort. The overarching principle for the renovation was to maintain Boone Tavern’s historic character while creating a green hotel for the 21st century, and to do so in the most environmentally responsible way. As a building renovated to LEED standards, Boone Tavern both contributes to the college’s overall efforts to become a more sustainable campus and to its educational mission, says Larry Shinn, Berea College president.
A Golden Educational Opportunity
“Climate change education comes in many forms,” Shinn says. “We teach it in the classroom, by our college’s commitment—and action—to reduce our carbon footprint, and by our many building renovations. Why not, then, renovate a 100-year-old hotel to LEED Gold standards and educate every guest about the value of each of us leaving a smaller environmental footprint? That is the educational goal behind the renovation of Berea’s Boone Tavern Hotel.”
The renovation’s success is the result of design and construction collaboration by Berea College, led by Steve Karcher, Berea’s vice president for business and administration; EOP Architects of Lexington, Ky.; Richard Polk, AIA, LEED AP, project principal; and Alliance Corp., the project’s construction manager. In 2004 Berea College and EOP Architects completed work on another historic building on campus, Lincoln Hall, the first LEED certified building in Kentucky.
“EOP is pleased to have also collaborated with Berea College on Kentucky’s most recent LEED project, the renovation of the historic Boone Tavern,” says Richard Polk. “This building, which like Lincoln Hall, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is proof that sustainable materials, technologies and practices can be successfully and cost effectively integrated into even the most challenging and historically sensitive projects.”
Points for Water, Energy Efficiency
LEED Gold certification for Boone Tavern was based on a number of green design and construction features. The renovation earned points for sustainable site work, water and energy efficiency, materials and construction methods, indoor environmental quality, use of recycled and regional materials and for innovation in design processes as well. As a member of the Green Hotel Association, Boone Tavern’s ongoing operating practices also demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility—values shared by Berea College.
By using less energy and incorporating other eco-friendly features, LEED-certified buildings save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a healthier environment. A total of 35,000 buildings in all 50 states and 91 countries are currently participating in the LEED system. In Kentucky, 25 projects are officially listed as LEED certified.
“Building operations are nearly 40 percent of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” says Rick Fedrezzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “While climate change is a global problem, innovative colleges and universities like Berea College are addressing it through local solutions.”
Go to the Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant.
