Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Jan. 23, 2025 — The Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center recently was awarded LEED Gold from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green-building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings, including RISE, are helping to make the world more sustainable.
“Achievement of LEED Gold marks a significant milestone for RISE Center,” said project lead Mike Lam, senior vice president of Hunt Companies Hawai‘i. “Creation of a sustainable facility reflects the vision of the public-private partnership team, who were committed to developing a 21st century facility with a reduced carbon footprint that offers a healthy indoor environment for the students, educators and community members who use it every day.”
By designing to a LEED Gold standard, the University of Hawai‘i, UH Foundation and Hunt Companies Hawai‘i developed a cutting-edge project that features:
The LEED Gold certification process required a comprehensive third-party review of the RISE Center project, evaluating it on nine elements including indoor environmental quality, water efficiency, sustainability of the site, transportation, energy and atmosphere, and materials and resources.
“RISE’s LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. RISE is a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.”
The $70 million live-learn-work RISE Center opened – fully occupied – to its first University of Hawai‘i student-residents in August 2023; it was the first new UH student housing in 15 years, successfully repurposing the landmark 1930s Charles Atherton House building into a state-of-the-art modern institutional facility flanked by two new six-story student residential wings.
This first-of-its-kind entrepreneurship-and-innovation center for Hawai‘i is located on the corner of Metcalf Street and University Avenue at the flagship University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus.
“This LEED Gold certification underscores our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said John Han, vice president for administration and chief financial officer at UH Foundation. “RISE was designed with the intent to have a smaller environmental footprint by reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy efficiency, and safeguarding the health and environment of the project's surroundings.”
RISE Center has garnered local and national accolades since first opening; these include the CoStar Group’s Redevelopment of the Year in its 2024 Impact Awards Hawai‘i program, the Hawai‘i Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers’s (ASCE) Grand Overall Winner and Best Large Project at its 2024 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Awards and NAIOP Hawai‘i’s 27th Annual Kukulu Hale Public/Government Project Award.
In 2019, Hunt Companies Hawai‘i, UH and the UH Foundation entered into a public-private partnership (P3) to design, build and finance RISE Center – the first P3 for the university. It is fully funded with private, non-taxpayer money.
About Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center at the University of Hawai‘i
RISE is a unique six-story facility that integrates an innovation-and-entrepreneurship center with housing for 374 students. It is a collaborative learning environment where students of all disciplines can explore their passions, solve complex problems, build prototypes, test their ideas and access resources.
About Hunt Companies Hawai‘i
With over 30 years of service in Hawai‘i, Hunt’s Development Division is recognized for its innovative use of underutilized government properties, its commitment to creating premier master-planned communities, a commitment to sound environmental, social and governance standards, and respect for the cultural and geographical riches of the Hawaiian Islands. In Hawai‘i, Hunt is responsible for the development, revitalization, and asset management of more than 500 entitled acres and 500,000 square feet of industrial and commercial space.
Hunt Companies is a family-owned principal investment firm founded in 1947 based in El Paso, TX with interests in the real estate, infrastructure and financial services sectors. As an owner operator with a strong investment platform and financial structuring expertise, Hunt develops lasting relationships to create value for its investors, clients, employees and communities. The company and its affiliates employ more than 9,600 people worldwide and are committed to promoting community growth and a sustainable future through their business practices, purpose driven investment and charitable giving. Learn more at www.huntcompanies.com.
