The Center for Architecture in Portland, Ore., [https://www.aiaportland.com/] has earned the U.S. Green Building Council LEED platinum certification for sustainable design and operation, according to a report by the Portland Business Journal . The center, which is home to the Portland and Oregon chapters of the AIA, was designed by Holst Architecture and is the first such center to achieve this highest honor.

The 10,000 sq ft project involved the renovation of a brick building first constructed more than 120 years ago. The center’s carbon footprint has decreased by 82%.

Photovoltaic panels and roof turbines generate energy for the center, while harvested rainwater is used for sewage and irrigation. Also, operable windows, energy-efficient lighting, and recycled content of construction materials and furnishings add to the sustainability of the building.

Large windows and skylights reduce the need for artificial lights, and a forced-air underground HVAC system regulates temperature in the concrete-floored building, according to the Portland Architecture blog.

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