CHAMPAIGN, IL - American Campus Communities, the nation’s leading developer, owner and manager of high-quality student housing, announced that The Suites at Third, a new student community in Champaign, Illinois opening August 2017 is pursuing LEED Homes Gold certification.
LEED is an initiative from the U.S. Green Building Council that encourages the sustainable planning, construction, maintenance and operation of projects around the world. LEED is the most widely used third-party verification for green buildings, with approximately 1.9 million square feet being certified daily. Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas that address sustainability issues. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then receives one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
The Suites at Third, located at 707 South Third, is a boutique 251-bed community pedestrian to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus and just one block south of “Green Street,” a hub of retail and student life activity. Suites residents will have access to amenities for academic and personal success, including study lounges and G2B® (high speed internet up to 1 gigabit per bed), an Academic Success Center with iMacs and free printing, a state-of-the-art fitness center with separate yoga room and modern student lounges for resident socialization and interaction.
Sustainability was a driving initiative in the design process with the community targeting LEED Homes Gold designation by the USGBC. Features include low emission paints throughout the community, low flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water usage, light efficiency in all common areas and units, outdoor courtyards for student gathering, and native plants that don’t require irrigation.
“We’re proud to deliver a best-in-class student community that is tracking LEED Homes Gold certification,” said Jim Hopke, American Campus Communities president. “The integration of sustainable features into our projects and the education of our employees and residents on the importance of green living are critical components in creating communities where students love living.”
With over 80 percent of the community preleased, The Suites at Third has received strong market acceptance and has limited spaces remaining. For more information on The Suites at Third or to tour a model apartment, students can visit the community’s leasing office located across the street at The Tower at Third, a sister property owned and managed by American Campus Communities.