The U.S. Green Building Council has certified SpringHill Suites and the Hospitality Learning Center at Metropolitan State University LEED Gold for new construction.
Managed by Denver's Sage Hospitality, the 150-suite hotel designed by JG Johnson Architects and RNL is metro Denver's first LEED Gold hotel.
"When we laid out our vision for this facility, we never imagined the SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown Hotel would become the first LEED Gold hotel in the Denver metro area," says MSU Denver President Stephen Jordan. "As we prepare our students to be future hotel management leaders in Denver and beyond, it's rewarding to know that they are also learning about corporate social responsibility and the importance of sustaining the environment."
The hotel and learning center, opened in 2012, give students on-the-job training as they work with seasoned Sage staff.
The 28,000-square-foot learning center combines classrooms with interactive laboratories to provide and experiential curriculum for more than 600 hospitality, tourism and events students. Amenities include a sensory analysis laboratory for wine and food tastings and a cellar management laboratory that boasts a 3,100 bottle wine-storage cellar.
Green features at the hotel and learning center include:
- High-efficiency plumbing fixtures and low VOC paints and flooring
- Secure bicycle storage lockers and changing rooms
- Full recycling in guestrooms, classrooms and offices
- Natural day lighting in 90 percent of regularly occupied areas
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