Chippewa Valley Times

The Sonnentag, a 204,666-square-foot recreational facility in Wisconsin and Minnesota, has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification. This makes it the largest LEED gold-certified facility of its type in these states and the third largest in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.

The complex includes the Sonnentag Event Center, John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, UW-Eau Claire Center for Health and Wellbeing, and Mayo Clinic Health System Diagnostic Imaging and Sports Medicine Center, bringing its total size to 225,900 square feet. It is also the first LEED-certified building used by UW-Eau Claire.

“UW-Eau Claire has long championed environmental sustainability,” said Chancellor James Schmidt. “This is a big win for The Sonnentag project, the university, the community and the environment.”

Achieving LEED certification requires addressing various aspects such as carbon emissions, energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, transportation options, materials used, health standards, and indoor environmental quality.

Schmidt credited Blugold students for initiating discussions on LEED certification several years ago. Kimera Way, president of Eau Claire Community Complex group that owns The Sonnentag, acknowledged their financial support of $350,000 towards LEED certification and WELL Health-Safety Rating (HSR).

“The push for sustainability at UW-Eau Claire really began with students,” said Lily Strehlow, sustainability coordinator at UW-Eau Claire. Student body president Sam Consiglio echoed this sentiment: "Ensuring this building is not only great when it opens but continues to be used as an impressive space... shows dedication to making sure this building is impacting not only students this academic year but far into the future."

The $122 million complex was built on a redeveloped brownfield site with significant sustainability features such as 190 vertical geothermal wells using 36 miles of piping for heating and cooling. The building operates fully on electricity provided by Xcel Energy from a local solar facility.

Additional sustainability features include LED lighting throughout the facility; green vehicle parking; electric vehicle charging stations; native plantings; nonirrigated landscape; and removal of 80% of total suspended solids from stormwater runoff.

Community partners played crucial roles in achieving these sustainability goals. Pablo Foundation contributed nearly $10 million towards efforts including geothermal wells. “Obtaining gold LEED certification... signifies commitment to the environment,” said MaiVue Xiong, executive director of Pablo Foundation.

Dr. James Boulter’s students toured The Sonnentag during construction to study its sustainability features. Boulter expressed his excitement about achieving gold LEED certification: “It sends a message... that you can build these advanced and sustainable operational sporting event venues.”

The Sonnentag's key sustainability features include:

- Redevelopment of a brownfield site.

- Use of 190 vertical geothermal wells.

- Fully electric operations powered by off-site solar facilities.

- Improved insulation and energy-efficient systems.

- Advanced building automation system.

- LED lighting throughout.

- Green vehicle parking and EV charging stations.

- Native plantings and nonirrigated landscapes.

- Removal of suspended solids from stormwater runoff.

- Achieved both LEED certification and WELL rating.