Among the Pratt projects earning praise from The Princeton Review guide is the construction of the new building on Myrtle Avenue, which will become the first LEED-certified academic building in New York City.
“Pratt Institute serves as a role model for art and design schools across the nation through its approach to the global challenge posed by climate change,” says President Thomas F. Schutte. “We are committed to integrating sustainability into the campus and classroom so that our students understand their role as socially and environmentally responsible citizens, artists, and designers.”
In 2007, President Schutte became one of the first signatories of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and that same year accepted New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 30/10 Challenge to reduce greenhouse gases by 30 percent by 2017.
As part of his climate commitment, President Schutte also created two full-time positions overseeing sustainability; laid out plans to offer a sustainability minor at Pratt; and began working with local community groups to promote energy conservation and other sustainable living practices.
College students are increasingly seeking this type of environmental commitment, says Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher, The Princeton Review. “Students and their parents are becoming more and more interested in learning about and attending colleges and universities that practice, teach, and support environmental responsibility,” he says.
The free Guide can be downloaded at http://www.princetonreview.com/greenguide.