Eco-friendly athletics

The University of Florida, Gainesville, has a new eco-friendly, highly sustainable, athletic-focused, Gator recruiting magnet: the Heavener Football Complex. It also is the first LEED platinum building in Florida.

The $28 million complex includes offices, conferences rooms, locker and exhibit space in support of the Gators football program. As fans enter the facility, they walk into a two-story atrium with trophy cases and high-definition televisions. To the left of the atrium is the 4,000-square-foot Gator Room, a central area to host recruiting functions.

The facility's energy-saving features exceed state and national standards requirements by 35 percent, and include low-e glazing on glass, insulation and reflective materials that make the heating and air-conditioning systems more efficient.

Architect for the project is RDG Planning & Design (Des Moines).