The U.S. Green Building Council Central Pennsylvania honored the Penn State Office of Physical Plant with its Sustainable Leader of the Year award on November 6.

OPP was among several organizations and individuals honored with one of USGBC Central Pennsylvania’s Forever Green Awards.

Steve Maruszewski, assistant vice president of OPP, and Andrew Gutberlet, manager of engineering services, accepted the award on behalf of OPP.

The Sustainable Leader of the Year award is given to a company or institution that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the LEED rating system.

As a result of OPP’s commitment to have all new construction and major renovations at University Park, the Commonwealth campuses and Hershey Medical Center meet LEED standards, there are more than 31 LEED-certified buildings at Penn State campuses.

At University Park, there are 20 LEED-certified buildings, with 12 more currently in progress, as well as 11 LEED-certified projects across the Commonwealth campuses and Hershey Medical Center, with five more projects coming soon.

In addition, OPP’s commitment led to several firsts for the Business Building, which was dedicated in 2005 and is home to the Smeal College of Business.

The Business Building is the first building to be certified through LEED v4 at any higher education institution in Pennsylvania, the first LEED v4 project in general in the 34-county Central Pennsylvania region and the first LEED v4 Existing Building certification at Penn State.

(Photo: Andrew Gutberlet, manager of Engineering Services in OPP, (right) accepted the USGBC Central Pennsylvania Sustainable Leader of the Year Award.)

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