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The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)administers the LEED program, which emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water saving, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality. According to the USGBC, 65.2% of the electricity consumed in the U.S. is from buildings, which can be reduced substantially through the program.

The LEED program encourages the use of local natural resources (such as stone and wood) as building materials. Using recycled or recyclable materials is a plus, as are tree conservation, landscaping with native plants, and installing energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems.

Owners concerned about high energy, operating and maintenance costs, as well as environmental considerations, are recognizing green building initiatives as a way of tackling these issues.

Through the expertise of our in-house staff, the BE&K Building Group provides clients with an expanded resource in the growing green building movement. Our LEED-accredited professionals function as a resource to our clients who wish to use LEED in developing their projects and obtaining certification.

Sustainable Design and Construction
A member of the U.S. Green Building Council, the BE&K Building Group is dedicated to sustainable design and construction. Members of our team have completed 18 LEED-certified projects to date — additional projects are in various stages of becoming LEED-certified.

Our firm recently designed and constructed a $74 million facility Corporate Headquarters and Research Facility for the Institute of Scientific Research in Fairmont, West Virginia. This five-story, 263,000 sf facility is in the final stages of the LEED Certification process. Design-build project delivery, one of our company's specialties, is particularly well suited for green building, because designers and constructors are involved early in the project.

Facilities currently under construction that are designed to achieve LEED certification upon completion include four in North Carolina and one in Florida — Duke University Health System's Clinical Cancer Center in Durham (Platinum); an office building for an international financial institution sited in Research Triangle Park (Certified); a K-12 education complex for Cherokee Central School (Silver) in Cherokee; the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum, Convention Center Expansion, Office Plaza and Parking Facility (Certified) in Charlotte; and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research’s East Coast Research Facility (Silver) in Orlando.



LEED® Benefits • Optimal life-cycle cost savings • Improved employee health, satisfaction, and productivity • State and local government incentives • LEED certification plaque to mount on building • Positive media exposure

Why Go Green? In its booklet, Making a Business Case for High-Performance Green Buildings, the U.S. Green Building Council cites 10 major advantages of green buildings: 1. In the event up-front costs are higher for high-performance green buildings, they can be recovered. 2. Integrated design lowers ongoing operating costs. 3. Better buildings equate to higher employee productivity. 4. New technologies enhance occupant health and well-being. 5. Healthier buildings can reduce liability. 6. Tenants' costs can be significantly reduced. 7. Property value will increase. 8. Many financial incentive programs are available. 9. Communities will notice your efforts. 10. Using best practices yields more predictable results.