The University proposed silver certification to the U.S. Green Building Council for the Recreation Center at the end of its construction, in 2008. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the nation's leading advocate of sustainable design. This program promotes the use of low environmental impact materials and design methods, as well as giving special attention to natural lighting, low maintenance landscaping and other environmentally sensitive products and designs. The structure itself is a masonry and metal panel building with metal and membrane roofing. Natural lighting is used through a variety of architectural glazing which is highly efficient. Also, special attention was given to water savings and energy efficiency. For example, the building's features include environmentally conscious bathrooms, lighting and the aforementioned low maintenance landscaping. Due to the building's environmentally focused elements, the URC was awarded the LEED gold certification.