Lexington’s first LEED Platinum building was ceremonially certified Thursday. As Josh James reports, the facility is also the first office building in the state to earn the highest ranking from the internationally recognized green certification system.
The new home for CMTA Engineers looks traditional from the outside, but inside you’ll find one of the most energy efficient buildings in town – thanks to a host of design elements, from the materials used to construct it to an emphasis on natural light.
And while the building represents a milestone, Kevin Mussler, a managing partner with the CMTA office, says other projects in town helped paved the way.
"We've had a lot of firsts, from the first net zero energy school in the state to the first LEED Gold building at the University of Kentucky," he says. "All of those firsts help create this first for us being this LEED Platinum building."
LEED certifications are awarded based on a points system that focuses on eight areas including sustainability, energy use, and site placement.
All told, the CMTA offices use about 55 percent less energy than a standard office built to code.
