The University of Wyoming Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center has been LEED Certified
Silver.
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a certification program for green buildings that recognizes building strategies and practices that exemplify best in class. Buildings have to satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve the various levels of certification.
“LEED certified buildings save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy,” reports LEED on their website. These buildings are also transforming how buildings and communities throughout the world are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated.
There are four levels of LEED certification that range from certified to platinum, and the amount of points the building earns determines its level of certification. The points are awarded in multiple categories, which include location and transportation, materials and resources used in construction, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and innovation—to name a few.
The $34 million Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center is located on the corner of 22nd Street and Grand Avenue near War Memorial Stadium. The 67,000-square-foot facility was entirely privately funded as the result of the generosity of Wyoming’s enthusiastic private donors, making it the largest fundraising facility project in the university’s history.
The center’s namesake, philanthropist Marian H. Rochelle, gave a historic $10 million gift. Mick and Susie McMurry gave $6 million through the McMurry Foundation to support the Grand Atrium and the UW Legacy Hall. Greg and Loren Hill gave $1.25 million to support the North Plaza, Roy and Fay Whitney gave $1 million to support the South Plaza, and Carol and Ramon Tomé gave $1 million for the Student Admissions Center. Additionally, the Rochelle Gateway Center has inspired many more wonderful gifts from UW’s dedicated contributors.
The center is a special destination that exemplifies UW’s premier status as one of the nation’s finest universities—an institution of noteworthy success and accomplishment, remarkable history and tradition, significant public and private partnerships, a pioneering Cowboy and Cowgirl spirit, and a place where lifetime friendships are created and renewed.
The project is a proud partnership among the UW Foundation, the Alumni Association, the Center for Advising and Career Services, and Student Admissions and contains office and collaborative space for these units as they support and promote UW.
The Gateway Center also includes museum-quality space to commemorate the history of UW with interactive displays that honor the impact of UW on Wyoming, the renowned alumni and friends who have supported the university, and the noteworthy traditions of the institution. The space is named the McMurry Foundation UW Legacy Hall in honor of the gift from Mick and Susie McMurry through the McMurry Foundation. The McMurrys also named the Grand Atrium.
This remarkable project is the vision of Marian H. Rochelle, the McMurrys, and the UW Foundation Board facility planning team members, including Foundation Board Chair Scott Neu; Vice Chair April Brimmer Kunz; emeritus chairs Clayton Hartman, Roy Cline, Greg Dyekman, and Frank Mendicino; and former Foundation Board member Mari Ann Martin.
The facility includes the following features:
The center was designed by Cheyenne-based Pappas & Pappas Architects, P.C., and DLR Group, an integrated design firm with offices across the United States. The national branding firm Advent, LLC designed the exhibit and museum spaces in the center. The construction manager at risk was Wyoming- and Colorado-based Haselden Construction.
This building showcases the university’s commitment to sustainability by constructing green buildings.
