Innovation Park

The University of Notre Dame has been recognized with countless honors over the years and now the latest involves their "green" efforts.

The school has won certification for two of their newest buildings on campus.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded Purcell Pavilion a gold certification and Innovation Park a silver certification for their environmental design.

Purcell Pavilion is made of renewable materials, like cork, and has an energy system designed to be 21 percent more efficient than a typical building of its kind.

Innovation Park promotes green transportation with multiple bike racks and parking spots reserved for low emitting-fuel efficient vehicles. It was built with more than a third of recycled materials and has an irrigation system designed to save over 100,000 gallons of water a year.

Both buildings opened in the fall of 2009.

Notre Dame now has five certified buildings with four gold and one silver. They are seeking two more with the Carole Sandner Hall and Compton Family Center, currently under construction.

To read more about the certifications, click here.