By Monica Chen

mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636

DURHAM -- Golden Belt has become the first historic campus in the Southeast to achieve the Gold certification for LEED, developer Scientific Properties announced Monday.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a level of recognition for environmentally sustainable building given by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Gary Kueber, development manager for Scientific Properties, said the restoration of the seven-acre campus was achieved by preserving the historic textile and tobacco mill and using high energy efficiency technology and locally sourcing construction materials.

"It was great to learn that Golden Belt earned every LEED point we submitted," he said in a statement. "I hope this inspires otherse to see the potential and reward in the sustainable rehabilitation of historic properties."

The campus is 155,000 square feet total and includes six buildings offering lofts, artist galleries and studios, and commercial space. Five of the six buildings were included in the LEED application, with the exception being Building 7, which lies separately from the main campus.

Scientific Properties had spent $25 million renovating the campus into some 40 lofts, 35 artist studios, retail space and music venue.

Since opening in 2008, the campus' lofts and studios have been filing up, and it has gained tenants such as LabourLove Gallery, an art gallery that offers classes, and The Cotton Room, an event venue.

The developer reused 95 percent of the existing walls, ceilings and roof, sourced 10 percent of all new construction materials and recycled 75 percent of construction waste.

Scientific Properties also included water conserving fixtures and sustainably harvested materials like bamboo, replaced windows with solar-shaded glass and installed eergy-efficient appliances, heating and air systems.

Belk Architecture, a firm in Durham, CT Wilson Construction Co. and multiple subcontractors worked on the site. Southern Energy Management performed energy modeling, and Systemworcx commissioned the building mechanical systems.