The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) highlighted the nearly 30 projects in Denver have achieved LEED green building certification since 2010. Two of these developments achieved LEED’s highest rating, Platinum.
There are approximately 230 LEED-certified and registered projects in Denver. Notable newly certified projects in 2010 include the Wells Fargo Center; Legacy Plaza, home of Gates’ Corp.’s world headquarters; the Colorado Convention Center; and Denver Public Schools’ Evie Garrett Dennis E-12 Campus. Xcel Energy’s new headquarters and the Group14 (formerly Enermodal Reilly) office both achieved LEED Platinum.
In the first month of 2011, three buildings in the Denver metropolitan area were certified, including the Auraria Science Building, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment building and Colorado Center Tower Two.
“The LEED green building program sets the benchmark for what is possible with high-performing buildings,” said Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED, USGBC. “Denver has been a pioneer in the green building effort, setting examples and showcasing new innovation with its many LEED projects.”
Denver has been a longtime supporter of green building initiatives and legislation. In 2006, it was the host of the USGBC’s annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and the following year, then-Mayor John W. Hickenlooper enacted Executive Order 123, requiring new municipal building construction of more than 5,000 sq ft to earn LEED Silver. Hickenlooper was also a member of USGBC’s Mayors’ Alliance for Green Schools, a coalition of mayors seeking to promote the benefits of green schools in their cities and towns.
“Seeing former Mayor Hickenlooper now in the governor’s chair is a testament to his leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “He continues to be a supporter and leader in green building initiatives.”
More than 40,000 projects currently are participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising more than 7.9 billion sq ft of construction space in all 50 states and 117 countries. In addition, nearly 10,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 45,000 more homes registered.
Source: U.S. Green Building Council
