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Council approves switch from B3 to LEED for community health and wellness center; schematic design trimmed to 106,000 sq ft
Summary
After months of design and cost alignment, council approved moving the Community Health and Wellness Center sustainability target from B3 to LEED (BD+C); schematic design reduced the facility from about 136,000 to 106,000 square feet while retaining primary program elements.
Bloomington City Council voted Feb. 24 to change the sustainability certification target for the planned Community Health and Wellness Center from the state-centered B3 standard to LEED (Building Design and Construction), and received a schematic-design update that reduces the facility to roughly 106,000 square feet.
Parks and Recreation Director Anne Catry and HGA design consultants presented schematic plans and explained staff cut about 30,000 square feet by simplifying form and removing a third gym and other efficiencies while keeping core program elements. "We have cut 30,000 square feet from the overall facility design," Catry said. Consultants said the overall program remains intact: aquatics, fitness studios, community health clinic spaces, a main lobby and spaces for classes and programs remain, though the indoor track and some amenities are slightly smaller.
Catry said the B3 performance target proved too costly when aligned with site and construction budgets; the council approved shifting to LEED certification to retain third-party verification while gaining some flexibility over specific credits. HGA's sustainability specialist Leah Werko told the council the team mapped current design assumptions against LEED categories and estimated the project achieves about 53 points under LEED, placing it in the Silver certification range; staff said further pricing and credit refinement will continue during design and that the city will report back in early April.
Council members asked about schedule, expansion options and stormwater/graywater strategies. Staff said the project remains on schedule, that the building footprint has been reduced (not the capacity to expand later) and that future additions (a third gym or expanded aquatics) are possible through deliberate site planning. The council voted 6-1 to approve the certification change; Council Member Nelson opposed the move, citing preference to focus on measured building performance rather than certification.
