In a first for Arizona, the Novus Innovation Corridor earned LEED-ND Gold certification last month from the U.S. Green Building Council. Novus, the 355-acre mixed-use, public-private partnership between Arizona State University and Catellus Development Corporation adjacent to the ASU Tempe campus, is the first LEED-ND community certified at any level in Arizona. “This is a remarkable achievement to earn certification at this level so early into a long-term development,” says Brian Kearney, first vice president of Catellus, master developer of the multi-phased Novus community.
The Gold certification is the second-highest certification awarded by USGBC on its scale of Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum designations. The 62 points awarded to Novus qualifies it nationally among the top ten best-scoring LEED-ND projects of all time. The LEED-ND program is designed to combat urban sprawl by inspiring and helping to create better, more sustainable, well-connected communities.
Novus is one of the largest urban commercial developments in the country, incorporating a theme of live, work, learn and play by integrating retail districts, residential spaces, high-rise office space, shaded sidewalks, bike baths and urban parks into a fully “walkable” community. When fully developed, Novus will contain more than 10 million square feet of offices, residences, hotels, retail and entertainment uses. Certified green buildings, compact development, walkable streets, and proximity to transit facilities are key sustainable components of the development.
Novus’ first phase was the development of the 2.1 million square foot Marina Heights regional hub for State Farm, followed shortly by the $307 million reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium. Novus is currently in Phase III of development, a 19-acre area at the northwest corner of University Drive and Rural Road that includes a hotel and a multifamily residential project — and its 777 Tower, a six-story 160,000-square-foot office building built by Ryan Companies U.S. and joint venture partner University Realty that was completed one year ago, recently became the first building in Novus to earn LEED Gold certification.
“The evolution of the Novus Innovation Corridor as an exemplar of what can be accomplished through a strong partnership between an innovative global research university and the private sector is truly exciting,” says Morgan R. Olsen, ASU executive vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer.
Did You Know: ASU has a long history of focusing on sustainability under the guidance of its president, Dr. Michael M. Crow. ASU is currently rated 5th in the world and 1st in the U.S. by the Times Higher Education Impact Ratings, the only global performance measures that assess universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Korczyk
