Mastering LEED CI

What does it take to build and maintain a LEED-rated* commercial interior, or other sustainable architectural design? The will to do something special that shows care for the environment and the welfare of occupants is the first step. Next come design, implementation, and finally occupancy and maintenance. This series of three articles from the January 2007 issue of Metropolis magazine explores the process and anticipates the pleasures and pitfalls of going for LEED rating. Beginning with the Interface showroom in Atlanta, see how the pilot project for LEED CI created a standard for commercial sustainability and how they accomplished it. Next, get invaluable advice from environmental consultants Tom Paladino and Carlie Bullock-Jones about working LEED fundamentals into any project regardless of budget or mandate, and gaining checklist points for intention even when a category seems to be a stretch for a specific job. Finally, take a look at the Bank of America building in Charlotte, NC to understand how even the most technologically advanced, energy efficient lighting techniques can be subverted by the uninitiated facilities manager or worker and learn what the new Bank of America building in New York is doing to correct the problem.

*LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a point-based rating system devised by the United States Green Buildings Council (USGBC) in 2000. Since then LEED has become increasingly refined covering always new areas of design, from new buildings to historic renovations; the system has also become controversial.

To download the full transcript in PDF format, click here.

To download the Metropolis CE Participant Exercise for 0.2 credits, click here.