Towson University Arena Among 'Greenest' in U.S.

Towson University’s SECU Arena has been named one of the “greenest” college basketball arenas in the U.S.

SECU Arena ranks second on LawnStarter’s new list of the 11 “Greenest” College Basketball Arenas in America. Only the University of Texas at Arlington’s College Park Center ranked higher.

Towson’s SECU Arena opened in 2013. The $85 million project earned LEED gold status from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. The gold ranking is the second highest in LEED’s four-tier system for rating green buildings, a system that ranges from basic certification at the lowest level to platinum certification at the highest level.

Among the “green” features of SECU Arena are energy-efficient mechanical systems, low-emissions paint and carpeting, and recycled building materials.

“We’re proud to have constructed a building that is highly functional, aesthetically pleasing and 20 percent more efficient than comparable facilities,” says Joe Oster, Towson’s vice president for administration and finance. “The achievement is indicative of the university’s ongoing commitment to sustainable design and construction.”