6 of the Most Stunning and Sustainable LEED Certified Buildings

September 30, 2016

Green features may seem limited to modern constructions, but eco-friendliness is popping up more often than you’d think—in structures both new and classic. 

It’s all thanks to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The world’s most popular green certification system, LEED certifies 1.85 million square feet of space every day (yup, day).

From museums to schools, apartments to stadiums—all structures are welcome so long as they use sustainable materials, hone in on water efficiency, and otherwise look to benefit their occupants and Mother Earth equally. Here are some of our sustainable favorites.

THE BROAD, LOS ANGELES: Opened just one year ago, The Broad has it all: looks (its soaring edifice resembles a sheer glacial wall); a world-class collection of contemporary art (expect heavy-hitters ranging from Cindy Sherman to Yayoi Kusama and her selfie-worthy mirror rooms); and LEED Gold certification. One of only a handful of museums in the U.S. to earn those credentials, the museum did so thanks to its electric car charging stations, bike parking, clean energy use, and its daylight-favoring design.

Image courtesy of Iwan Baan courtesy of The Broad and Diller Scofidio + Renfro
KING STREET STATION, SEATTLE: King Street Station may have been completed in 1906—decades before LEED was even a glimmer in the eye of the U.S. Green Building Council—but this historic landmark proves that you don't need to be brand spankin' new to go green. Thanks to a groundbreaking 2012 renovation, the station now features natural ventilation, a huge pedestrian plaza, solar panels, salvaged materials and more—enough to earn it an elite Platinum badge of approval.
RENE CAZENAVE APARTMENTS, SAN FRANCISCO: So you can visit plenty of LEED-certified buildings. But ever wonder what it's like to actually live in one? For the residents of the striking Rene Cazenave Apartments in San Francisco's Rincon Hill nabe, there are more than a few advantages. For starters, the roof offers open-air gardens, and apartments are warmed by hydronic heating and freshened with natural daylight and ventilation. As the building was also created to house previously homeless occupants, it's a truly impressive example of green, socially responsible design.

Image courtesy of Community Housing Partnership
H-E-B MUELLER, AUSTIN: We don't know about you, but this Austin-based grocery store is a far cry from our corner bodega. Looking more like an opera house than a place that sells boxes of cereal and bananas, H-E-B Mueller is Gold Certified, thanks in part to its electricity (provided by 600 rooftop panels), its heat-absorbing ceramic roof, public recycling stations, and reclaimed water use. As an extra bonus, the store is even cleaned with green products, while excess food is donated to the area food bank. Now that's a bunch of bananas you can feel good about buying.

Image courtesy of Ray Briggs Photography
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, NEW YORK: Now for the one that needs no introduction: the Empire State Building. This icon is indeed LEED Gold-certified, in addition to being world famous. The skyscraper earned the accolade back in 2011, coinciding with its 80th anniversary. The award is all thanks to a new retrofit, which includes reduced energy consumption, refurbed windows, and elevators that recycle energy, even while soaring up and down 103 stories.
CHINATOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY, CHICAGO: It's hard to single out the most beautiful LEED-certified buildings in Chicago...especially since Illinois was named the number one state for LEED certification last year (with more than 400 projects found in Chicago alone). But the new Chinatown Public Library branch might just be our favorite. Spanning 16,000 square feet, the temple of learning was designed with feng shui in mind and has a living green roof. The Gold-certified building also uses a solar shading screen, low energy LED lighting, and a radiant heating and cooling system designed to keep readers comfy. Now that's book and energy smart.

Image courtesy of Jon Miller © Hedrich Blessing
THE BROAD, LOS ANGELES: Opened just one year ago, The Broad has it all: looks (its soaring edifice resembles a sheer glacial wall); a world-class collection of contemporary art (expect heavy-hitters ranging from Cindy Sherman to Yayoi Kusama and her selfie-worthy mirror rooms); and LEED Gold certification. One of only a handful of museums in the U.S. to earn those credentials, the museum did so thanks to its electric car charging stations, bike parking, clean energy use, and its daylight-favoring design.

Image courtesy of Iwan Baan courtesy of The Broad and Diller Scofidio + Renfro
KING STREET STATION, SEATTLE: King Street Station may have been completed in 1906—decades before LEED was even a glimmer in the eye of the U.S. Green Building Council—but this historic landmark proves that you don't need to be brand spankin' new to go green. Thanks to a groundbreaking 2012 renovation, the station now features natural ventilation, a huge pedestrian plaza, solar panels, salvaged materials and more—enough to earn it an elite Platinum badge of approval.
RENE CAZENAVE APARTMENTS, SAN FRANCISCO: So you can visit plenty of LEED-certified buildings. But ever wonder what it's like to actually live in one? For the residents of the striking Rene Cazenave Apartments in San Francisco's Rincon Hill nabe, there are more than a few advantages. For starters, the roof offers open-air gardens, and apartments are warmed by hydronic heating and freshened with natural daylight and ventilation. As the building was also created to house previously homeless occupants, it's a truly impressive example of green, socially responsible design.

Image courtesy of Community Housing Partnership
H-E-B MUELLER, AUSTIN: We don't know about you, but this Austin-based grocery store is a far cry from our corner bodega. Looking more like an opera house than a place that sells boxes of cereal and bananas, H-E-B Mueller is Gold Certified, thanks in part to its electricity (provided by 600 rooftop panels), its heat-absorbing ceramic roof, public recycling stations, and reclaimed water use. As an extra bonus, the store is even cleaned with green products, while excess food is donated to the area food bank. Now that's a bunch of bananas you can feel good about buying.

Image courtesy of Ray Briggs Photography
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, NEW YORK: Now for the one that needs no introduction: the Empire State Building. This icon is indeed LEED Gold-certified, in addition to being world famous. The skyscraper earned the accolade back in 2011, coinciding with its 80th anniversary. The award is all thanks to a new retrofit, which includes reduced energy consumption, refurbed windows, and elevators that recycle energy, even while soaring up and down 103 stories.
CHINATOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY, CHICAGO: It's hard to single out the most beautiful LEED-certified buildings in Chicago...especially since Illinois was named the number one state for LEED certification last year (with more than 400 projects found in Chicago alone). But the new Chinatown Public Library branch might just be our favorite. Spanning 16,000 square feet, the temple of learning was designed with feng shui in mind and has a living green roof. The Gold-certified building also uses a solar shading screen, low energy LED lighting, and a radiant heating and cooling system designed to keep readers comfy. Now that's book and energy smart.

Image courtesy of Jon Miller © Hedrich Blessing