OPN recognized for commitment to LEED design

The United States Green Building Council Iowa commended OPN Architects for our ongoing commitment to green building projects in Iowa at its annual meeting in November.

As a way to illustrate the chapter’s current and future successes in accelerating the adoption of green building practices, technologies, policies, and standards, projects that have been LEED certified since 2019 were recognized. In all, seven OPN projects were highlighted:

Biosciences Advanced Teaching & Research Building at Iowa State University, LEED Gold
Johnson County Ambulance & Medical Examiner Building, LEED Gold
Krause Gateway Center, LEED Gold
Linn County Dr. Percy & Lileah Harris Public Health Building, LEED Silver
711 High Street, Principal Financial Group, LEED Gold
655 9th Street, Principal Financial Group, LEED Gold
College of Pharmacy at University of Iowa, LEED Silver

The next highest number of certified projects by an architecture firm was two. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. LEED projects earn points by adhering to prerequisites and credits across nine categories.

The construction and operation of buildings represents 40% of the total global carbon emissions. Certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the space is constructed and operated to the highest level of sustainability, which directly reduces each building’s carbon footprint in addition to other positive impacts.

While we are proud of the more more than three dozen LEED certified projects completed, sustainable design is about more than a certificate. We are proud to be among the 400 firms who have pledged to achieve 100 percent carbon-neutral projects by 2030. Nearly a decade after making the commitment, we’re even more proud that 18 percent of our projects have met the target compared to the industry average of 3.9 percent. For more about how sustainability is woven into every design decision we make at OPN, check our our Sustainability Action Plan.