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2003 Closing the Circle Award Winner, Sustainable Design

The General Services Administration (GSA) built U.S. Courthouse in Youngstown, Ohio is the first courthouse developed by GSA to receive a LEED certification. It was completed under budget and ahead of schedule. The project team started the project with a daylong charrette to inform the project participants about the LEED rating system and establish sustainable design parameters for the project.

  • Siting: The courthouse is located on a former brownfields site. GSA returned more than 79,000 sq ft. of the site from pavement to a natural state complete with native vegetation. GSA also reduced the impervious areas on site by 58 percent. All of the excavated earth from the project was reused on site.

  • Materials and Recycling: All of the demolition and construction waste was recycled, including 12.5 tons of steel and 45 tons of metal. The structural steel used for the building contained 90 percent postconsumer recycled content. The building also was carpeted with recycled content carpet.

  • Resource Efficiency: The site is planted with low-water plants, and the absence of irrigation is estimated to save more than 1,000,000 gallons of water annually. Seventy five percent of the building is day-lighted, which saves a substantial amount of money on electricity, and the roof was painted white in order to reflect heat. Also, the sustainable design of the building is estimated to save 10 percent on electrical savings annually and 22 percent on energy savings annually.

  • Indoor Air Quality: To ensure healthy indoor environmental air quality, GSA sealed the ductwork during construction so that dust and debris were not able to enter. The building air was flushed for a two week period prior to occupancy. In addition, the carpet is certified as a low-emitting material.

  • Other: To reduce ozone depletion, HFC refrigerants are used in the chiller and water coolers, and the fire suppression system uses no halon.

For more information please contact, Mary Walsh at (312) 353-3704 or mary.walsh@gsa.gov.


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