The Huntington Center, home to the Toledo Walleye ice hockey team, recently earned LEED gold status from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Lucas County Commissioners and the Huntington Center design team, including HNTB Architecture, The Collaborative Inc., Lathrop Turner, Toledo Arena Sports Inc. and SMG, began exploring sustainable design in early 2007 and committed to creating a LEED building as a way to be both environmentally and fiscally responsible.

The design team also worked with local “green” companies, including Pilkington North America Inc., to incorporate energy-efficient products into the construction project.

The 8,000-seat arena, which opened on October 16, 2009, features an energy-efficient combination of Pilkington Solar-E™ and Pilkington Energy Advantage™ Low-E in the units for the exterior façade. Pilkington Optiwhite™ low iron glass was used for interior stair wells, balustrades and boxes, to give spectators a clear view of the action taking place in the main hall.

Following the completion of the Huntington Center, the building’s systems underwent an independent review and optimization. This extra step lets the commissioners know that the mechanical and electrical systems are operating as efficiently as possible. The Huntington Center’s heating and cooling system is designed to operate 28 percent more efficiently than the standard building code requirement.