WCI Communities, Inc. Gift Assures Florida Gulf Coast University Green Building Project to Go Forth

Business Wire, May 9, 2001

Business Editors/Education Writers

FORT MYERS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2001

Florida Gulf Coast University's commitment to environmental education forged ahead today when Watermark Communities Inc. (WCI) President Jerry Starkey delivered a $350,000 check to FGCU President William C. Merwin, helping the University complete its fundraising campaign for the Green Building project.

To be named the WCI Green Building Demonstration and Learning Center, the facility will foster environmentally sustainable and healthy building, housing and landscape practices in Southwest Florida through demonstration projects and educational outreach programs.

"We are delighted that WCI is partnering with the University on this important project that emphasizes environmental sustainability," said President Merwin. "FGCU offers a strong academic curriculum and degree program in environmental studies, and our students will benefit from the instructional attributes of this demonstration project that illustrates the appropriate balance between responsible development and environmental conservation."

The Green Building project was instituted in the spring of 1998 by a group of individuals associated with the building industry who saw the need to help people make better decisions about building and landscaping to improve quality of life opportunities for present and future generations. They approached FGCU to partner in this endeavor. As a result, the WCI Green Building Demonstration and Learning Center is the first demonstration project and teaching facility with a focus on environmentally sustainable building practices and environmentally friendly landscaping.

Southwest Florida has a natural infrastructure, a subtropical natural environment that provides "quality of life services" such as clean air, clean water, water storage, sites for ecotourism, fisheries and biodiversity. The concern is that current building and landscaping practices are placing unsustainable pressures on the natural infrastructure and reducing quality of life. Current building practices are using up limited resources at great ecological and economic costs. "Green" building and landscaping techniques appropriate to Southwest Florida's unique climate and environment can conserve energy, water, materials, time and natural ecosystems while promoting safety, health and accessibility.

The WCI Green Building Demonstration and Learning Center will be the catalyst for environmentally sustainable demonstration projects and outreach programs designed for building and landscape professionals and conservationists. The building itself will be an example of:

-- Environmentally sustainable building practices

-- Use of resource efficient materials

-- Healthy house design

-- Environmentally friendly landscaping

-- Water conservation systems

-- Solar energy applications

-- Energy efficiency

-- Non-toxic building materials

-- Design for handicapped and elderly

-- Hurricane protection features

-- Recycling systems

-- Safe house features

-- Low maintenance cost

-- Long term durability

-- Ease of use

The educational outreach program will strive to:

-- Reach a broad range of individuals and groups in the community

-- Partner with others that have already developed similar programs

-- Identify gaps in the educational process

-- Develop marketing strategies to insure for maximum participants

-- Use a mix of delivery modes for delivery of green building

information to the community

Florida Gulf Coast University is currently offering courses such as a Colloquium, required of all students, Issues in Ecology and the Environment, Environmental Technology, and Conservation Strategies for Sustainable Future to address environmental sustainability issues. FGCU continuing education programs in partnerships with professional architecture, building, interior design and landscape design associations can be provided. The FGCU Small Business Innovation Center offers advice and information to new entrepreneurial "green building" businesses.

Today's event marked the culmination of three years of work by University officials and groups associated with the home building industry to bring the plans to life. The $500,000 raised from the community by the FGCU Foundation, Inc. is matched dollar for dollar by the State legislature. The design phase for the building will begin December 2001. The building will be located near the main entrance to the University.

Contact Dr. John Fitch, FGCU College of Arts and Sciences Professor, and Environmental and Green Building Project Director, at (941) 590-7170, or Roy Bonnell Jr., FGCU Green Building Project Manager, at (941) 263-6819 for more information.

As an accredited comprehensive public university, FGCU addresses the higher educational needs of Southwest Florida and provides a learning-centered environment that offers high quality educational opportunities for the general public.