RELEASED: March 12, 2009

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College's newest residence hall, Pearl Hall, was honored by the Heart of Danville (an organization promoting community development) during its annual meeting to announce 2009 Downtown Revitalization Award recipients.

Centre was awarded the Heart of Gold Award (Downtown Investment Award) for the remarkable investment made in downtown Danville in the construction of Pearl Hall.

"Pearl Hall was completed in record time, with the most courteous construction crew, and the project is downtown Danville's first 'green' building," said Heart of Danville Executive Director Julie Wagner. "The commitment made by Centre to be a good neighbor, as they marry both historic preservation and new construction practices that are sensitive to the local community and the environment, make them our choice for the Heart of Gold Award."

Pearl Hall (opened in August 2008) was built using sustainable design and materials, including a variable irrigation system, which eliminates the need for a permanent and constant use of water for irrigation; low-flow shower heads, lavatories and sinks, and dual-flush toilets; controllability of lighting, heating and cooling; paints, adhesives and sealants that contain no harmful ingredients; carpeting that meets the requirements of Green Label Plus carpeting; recycling containers throughout the building; efficient, front-loading washing machines; high recycled-content and regional materials within the structure of the building; and geothermal heating and cooling system.

Pearl hall is pending LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Pearl Hall was made possible by a gift from Centre trustee Robert Brockman '63. The residence hall is named in memory of Brockman's mother and grandmother, both of whom were named Pearl. Click here for photo slideshow.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.