This article previously appeared in SDSU NewsCenter.
With points for its high water efficiency, carbon offsets and 100% use of renewable energy, San Diego State University's Aztec Recreation Center (ARC) has earned LEED Double Platinum status, an award bestowed upon fewer than one in a hundred facilities evaluated by the green building rating system.
SDSU campus community members and partners celebrated the achievement Friday, Feb. 27 at the grand opening of the new Arena Meeting Center (AMC). The event leads into the A.S. GreenFest, a week-long celebration of sustainability, diversity and SDSU pride taking place March 1-7.
Operated by Associated Students (A.S.), the ARC now holds two distinct Platinum certifications: one for its initial construction and the most recent, awarded in November, for building operations and maintenance.
The ARC secured the latest Platinum certification with 95 points, exceeding the 80-point threshold. This achievement builds upon the ARC's 2023 LEED Platinum Certification, placing it among the less than 1% of LEED-certified buildings that have achieved Double Platinum status, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). A scorecard for the evaluation can be found online.
As a fossil fuel-free facility, the ARC relies entirely on onsite renewable electricity. In 2025, the ARC generated enough solar power to supply electricity to over 183 San Diego homes for an entire year.
Beyond power generation, the ARC prioritizes resource-use efficiency and indoor air quality. Through a dedicated team of ARC student employees that proactively tracks repairs, the facility has reduced energy and water consumption by a third since its first year of usage. Daily sustainability efforts also ensure over 56% of waste is diverted from landfill through recycling and composting.
“Associated Students has a longstanding commitment to honoring sustainability in our everyday and long-term goals," said A.S. President Kareen Holstrom. “We have further demonstrated our students’ collective and ongoing priority of centering green practices.”
Reflecting back, in 2008, the A.S. Sustainability Commission, also known as “Green Love,” which focused on sustainable progress on campus and in the community, became an advocate for social and environmentally-responsible resource use. Momentum grew in 2009 when students voted to build the current LEED Double Platinum Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union.
By 2018, students voted to expand and renovate the ARC, ensuring the facility would support students’ health, wellness and sustainability goals.
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Since the ARC’s reopening in 2021, student engagement has reached an all-time high with nearly 80% of students activating their memberships: a striking 47% usage increase post expansion that outpaces peer institutions.
According to membership surveys, about 92% of ARC users report the facility contributes to their overall well-being.
“The level of student engagement has been wonderful to see,” said Associate Executive Director of Associated Students Mark Zakrzewski. “All of this is happening within a facility designed and built to the highest standards of sustainability — a true testament to what can be achieved when vision, collaboration and commitment come together.”
To accommodate increasing facility use and campus growth, the A.S. board of directors approved another ARC expansion last spring; notably, the project requires no student fees.
The ARC’s success highlights SDSU’s overall sustainability strategy. Driven by the recently updated Climate Action Plan, SDSU continues to focus on achieving LEED certification for major projects.
“These projects fit squarely within SDSU’s newly updated Climate Action Plan and our broader sustainability goal,” said Eric Hansen, associate vice president for Business Operations. “The Double LEED Platinum certification represents our goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, conserve water and create healthier indoor environments. It shows that sustainability is not an add-on, at its best, it is integrated into how we design, build and operate.”
With this new milestone, the ARC joins the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union as one of the only two facilities within the entire California State University system to hold Double Platinum status.
A.S. has secured eight LEED certifications across six distinct facilities. In addition to the Double LEED Platinum certifications at the ARC and Student Union, A.S. operates a Platinum-certified Mission Bay Aquatic Center and three Gold-certified facilities: the Aztec Aquaplex, Viejas Arena and SDSU Children’s Center.
“SDSU continues to demonstrate that environmental responsibility and student success go hand in hand,” said Stephanie Hallinan, USGBC associate director of Market Transformation & Development. “As a valued partner to USGBC, the university is raising the bar nationwide through measurable performance, meaningful student engagement and long-term environmental stewardship.”
The AMC Terrace, located across the ARC, further expands the A.S. greenprint by offering 3,500 square feet of student and event space and over 75,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually through solar panels.
“Hanging another LEED platinum plaque on the wall of the ARC and gathering in this new solar-powered building just days before GreenFest week feels surreal,” said A.S. Sustainability Coordinator Charlotte Roberts. “This accomplishment wouldn't be possible without contributions from our dedicated and collaborative staff, the ARC construction project team, and of course, our passionate student leaders.”
