Kent State University at Tuscarawas was recently awarded LEED® certification for the Tolloty Technology Incubator. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
“When we began planning the Tolloty Technology Incubator to bolster entrepreneurial and high tech initiatives, we knew then that we wanted to prioritize constructing a facility that would be environmentally conscientious,” says Bradley A. Bielski, Ph.D., dean and chief administrative officer of Kent State Tuscarawas. “So now, we are extremely pleased and proud that our efforts to create a sustainable and innovative building have resulted in the distinction of LEED certified.”
Kent State Tuscarawas achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
“By focusing on LEED certification, we were able to meet a requirement for a state grant for the Job Ready Sites Program and also the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration,” says Gary Little, executive director of the CIC, a partner with Kent State Tuscarawas on the Tolloty Technology Incubator project. “Energy efficiency and reduced utility costs were incorporated into the building design. We are pleased to have an energy-efficient, high-tech facility that is attractive to today’s high-tech, energy-conscience entrepreneurs and companies.”
The Tolloty Technology Incubator currently houses the Kent State Tuscarawas Ohio Small Business Development Center, the Tuscarawas County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), Lauren Innovations and AquaBlue Incorporated.
“Achieving LEED Certification for the Tolloty Technology Incubator is an important milestone from an operational perspective,” says William H. Beisel, director of Kent State Tuscarawas Business and Community Services. “Certification definitely adds an element of quality and legitimacy to our program as we network with other providers within the Northeast Ohio entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to the U.S. Green Building Council’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” says Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Kent State Tuscarawas is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”
Designed by Poggemeyer Design Group of Bowling Green, the $5.4 million, 27,000-square-foot facility offers both flex and finished tenant space, a high-tech training room, wet lab, conference rooms, reception area, office spaces, shipping and receiving area, and a computer network operating center for servers, data storage and network operations. Technologies provided include Wi-Fi, VOIP and fiber connections to a high-bandwidth system for robust data, image and research applications.
The Tolloty Technology Incubator is located at 1776 Tech Park Dr. NE in New Philadelphia. Companies interested in applying for acceptance into the incubator can contact Gary Little at 330-308-7524 or garylittle@tusccic.com.