The Lodge Dining Center at UM Achieves USGBC LEED Gold v4 Certification

The Lodge Dining Center opened as a community hub on the University of Montana’s campus in the fall of 2024. Now, in 2025 it is one of the first buildings of the year to achieve USGBC LEED Gold v4 Certification. This is the second highest sustainability rating that a building can achieve and it’s not easy to come by. This is due to increased stringency, greater documentation needs, more upfront planning, better material sourcing, improved operational efficiency, and ongoing tracking performance.

Some of the highlights that The Lodge received credits for are:
- Building on an old construction site (sensitive land protection)
- Reduced parking footprint and green vehicles (installation of a new EV charging station)
- Rainwater management and water metering
- Heat island reduction to protect nearby wildlife habitats
- Light pollution reduction
- Acoustic performance to promote lively conversation and community building
- Optimize energy performance by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Low-emitting materials to reduce chemical contaminants and protect user health
- Construction and demolition waste management (88.85% of materials were diverted from the landfill)
All within an area of 44,000 square feet!

For these reasons and many more, The Lodge’s long-term commitment to sustainable design enhances student wellness and provides a healthier space for connection.

Check out the articles linked below to learn more!
https://www.umt.edu/sustainability/campus-initiatives/buildings/thelodge.php
https://fesmag.com/topics/project-profiles/facility-design-project-of-the-month/22363-spotlighting-montana-history-and-culture