George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. president, made his mark in Texas earlier in his career through oil exploration. Now under construction, the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas seeks to become a landmark of energy efficiency. Dedicated to preserving the artifacts and history of the Bush presidency, the $250-million library complex is designed to achieve LEED Platinum certification, a rare honor in the state.
"We opted to go for platinum, partly because we wanted to do it as a challenge and due to the high profile of the project," says Peter E. Arendt, director of design and construction for the George W. Bush Foundation. "We figured if anyone was going to make a statement for energy conservation and utilization of our natural resources, it ought to be one of our former presidents and leaders of the country."