There’s something special about Oregon’s arena—and I’m not talking about the wood-painted court. Matthew Knight Arena, home to the University of Oregon Ducks and named for the late son of Nike co-founder and chairman Sam Knight, has become the NCAA’s first LEED Gold-certfied arena. In addition to men’s basketball, the 400,000-square-foot facility also serves the University’s women’s basketball, volleyball and acrobatics and tumbling teams. Says Chris Ramey, Associate Vice President, Campus Planning and Real Estate:

LEED certification for the Matthew Knight Arena aligns perfectly with the University’s commitment to maintain the current carbon footprint of our 295-acre campus while growing and expanding our facilities,” said Chris Ramey, associate vice president, Campus Planning and Real Estate. “The Oregon Model of Sustainable Development mandates that we achieve LEED Gold certification for new buildings and the arena is a wonderful showcase of the future of campus growth.

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Originally built in 1999, American Airlines Arena, home to LeBron James and the Miami HEAT, worked with local partners such as Waste Management and Dade Paper to become one of the first NBA arenas to achieve LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2009. Former mayor Manny Diaz on the achievement:

The American Airlines Arena is a catalyst for all Miami businesses to invest in a greener future. The Arena’s commitment to the Earth and our community paves the way for other companies in downtown Miami to follow that path and make a lasting difference.

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Philips Arena has been heralded by the NBA, NHL and state and local governments as a leader in sustainability and tool for community education. Through a partnership with Southface, the facility was retrofitted in 2009 to add a variety of sustainability features and initiatives. Says Dennis Creech, Executive Director of Southface:

Through its strong green commitment, Philips Arena will save money by reducing its energy and water costs, and will also create a better indoor environment for its employees and visitors. Its practical approach is a model for other businesses—large and small—on how to protect the environment and the bottom line.

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Home to the Washington Nationals and renowned fourth-inning Presidents Race, Nationals Park is a pioneer in sustainable development: the 1.1 million-square-foot stadium was the first in Major League Baseball to achieve LEED certification. The 25-acre site, a former brownfield and part of the District’s Voluntary Cleanup Program, was selected to spur urban revitalization in the southwest quadrant of our nation’s capital.

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