LEED Awarded Projects

A “jail without bars,” the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center was designed and constructed to work within Denver’s new downtown Justice complex. The Detention Center’s state-of-the-art facility was conceived as “sculptural,” according to Lee Becker of Harman-Cox. Its design adds grace, dignity, and a connection to Denver’s architectural history in its high-profile location.

Architects: Hartman-Cox Architects; Ricci-Greene Associates; Oz Architecture

Designed to be a cultural complex with a variety of both performance and educational venues, the Smith Center is the first major performance hall in the United States to achieve LEED certification. From its inception, sustainability was planned into the project from the inside—glues, carpets, and paints—and out—by utilizing energy-efficient windows, natural light and natural materials, and by recycling construction waste. And, using reclaimed land from a former railroad yard, even its site is a laudable reuse of city-owned resources.

David M Schwarz Architects, Inc.; HKS Inc.

Education Hall, in Corvallis, Oregon, was built in 1902—and scheduled for demolition in 2002 after a fire and multiple renovations in its century of service. A successful effort was launched on its 100th anniversary to save the historic building, by providing a new foundation and replacing its original sandstone with limestone. According to the architect, this will provide a more seismically stable exterior.

The renovation is nearly waste-free, and the project is on track for LEED Gold certification. Every construction project at Oregon State University must adhere to the LEED standards and achieve LEED Silver; renovation projects must be LEED certified equivalent.

Architect: Fletcher, Farr, Ayotte

The South Hall project includes a four-story “modified” Collegiate Gothic academic building and a Commons, and was designed to be an “undeniable extension” to the School’s historic Law Quadrangle. It meets the needs of a modern legal education with 100,000 sq. ft. of office and classroom space, as well as professional settings for student attorneys to meet with clients through the Law School’s renowned clinical law program.

Hartman-Cox Architects; Integrated Design Solutions

With a focus on local wood and the use of quarry-end limestone “roughbacks”—a part of the block that is ordinarily waste—opportunities were created to pursue LEED certification and reinforce the structure’s connection to its surroundings; for example, a reclaimed quarry was selected as the building site. The project was completed using innovative building practices and has achieved a low-energy footprint.

Architect: Lake Flato Architects; CSO Schenkel Shultz

Created to show environmental responsibility for the future, the Center provides visual stability and dignity suited to an academic environment. As part of the LEED process, sustainable strategies included lighting controls and daylight harvesting as well as controls for groundwater reuse. Limestone, as a natural material, also contributed to the creation of a sustainable expression in an historical environment.

Architect: TSOI-Kobus