Submitted by Washington Department of Enterprise Services
The Capitol Campus has gone double platinum.
The new Helen Sommers Building on the state Capitol Campus has gained LEED Platinum certification — the highest ranking possible — from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first state-owned building on the campus to gain LEED certification and the campus’ second building overall to achieve the platinum designation.
Buildings with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification are healthier, more productive places that reduce stress on the environment because they are energy and resource-efficient. Platinum is the highest of four levels of certification, and LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
The Helen Sommers Building embodies the vision for sustainability on the campus. It was designed to be within the top 1 percent of office buildings nationwide in energy efficiency.
“This building exemplifies the types of innovation we want in Washington state — those that lead to more green jobs and less carbon pollution,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “It is in the best interest of our state to take sustainability seriously, and at the state’s capitol, we have a special responsibility to lead by example.”
Read the rest of the story on the governor’s Medium page.
