SEGD 2010 No. 27 - 44

Then Some n April 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council launched LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Version 3, its next-generation environmental rating system for buildings. The strength of the new system, says the USGBC, is its leveraging of new building technologies and its “consensus-based, transparent, ongoing development cycle.” When it came to designing its own new headquarters, located in the recycled shell of a 1975 ofﬁce building at 2101 L Street in Washington, D.C., the USGBC walked the talk. After opening in March 2009, the 75,000-sq.-ft. ofﬁce became the ﬁrst space to achieve a LEED Platinum rating under the new system. The design of the USGBC’s new, larger home exhibits more than its successful growth and the highest level of LEED standards put into LEED & The USGBC finds its voice in a new space that tells the story of its trajectory from ideals to international influence. BY NAOMI PEARSON I practice. “They also wanted to reﬁne their message and be known not just for LEED, but as a knowledge center for sustainability,” says Ken Wilson, principal of project architect Envision Design (Washington, D.C.). Intended as a “learning lab,” the new space is the focus of public tours that highlight the USGBC’s philosophy and worldwide impact to thousands of visitors each year. Wilson, whose team has designed sustainable interiors for several other environmental nonproﬁts, identiﬁed locations for integrating the USGBC brand into the design of the space. Recognizing that these locations would provide important “moments” for communicating their message, the USGBC called on the expertise of Shaw Jelveh Design (Baltimore/New York). Shaw Jelveh was already well versed in the USGBC’s branding strategy, having designed graphics, trade show 44 segdDESIGN

SEGD 2010 No. 27

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEGD 2010 No. 27