The John J. Hemmingson Center & Sustainability

Since I've had the privilege of calling Gonzaga University home for most of the last three years of my life, I thought it would be fitting to write my first blog post about the new Hemmingson Center that is set to open in October of this year.  Not only is the Hemmingson Center exciting because it is very spacious and new, but because it is also sustainable.  The facility has received the LEED Gold Certification.  The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification demonstrates that the center met the gold standard on a system that rates design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings.  Gonzaga has boasted for years that it places great focus on sustainability and this building is a perfect example of that.  

You might be wondering what this has to do with marketing? Well, Gonzaga has marketed itself to several donors and its strong alumni network as being sustainable and environmentally friendly.  For this reason, I believe Gonzaga was able to raise a large amount of donations to help fund this beautiful building.  Reading in the marketing chapter about greenwashing and how some companies spend more time advertising about being green than actually being green, caught my attention.  I would be extremely disappointed in the university if it claimed that the building was green and then was unable to become LEED certified.  Thinking of the green movement in this way helped give me perspective on how others feel when a company doesn't stay true to its word.  I'm very proud to call myself a Zag and I'm excited to enjoy this sustainable, gorgeous facility when I return to campus in the Fall!