I’m taking a bit of a break from my traditional weekly LEED roundup format this week. Instead of reporting on recently certified LEED projects, I’m focusing on a few of the LEED projects that Greenbuild 2009 attendees were able to tour while in Phoenix this week.

 

The Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) is home to the Arizona State University School of Sustainability. The building, originally constructed in the 1960s, features six wind turbines, GreenGuard furniture, low-VOC products, and countertops made from recycled milk jugs. The facility will also be home to a new solar array sometime in the coming year.

 

The 40,000 square foot Tempe Transportation Center boasts a green roof with desert vegetation, an underfloor air distribution system, retractable exterior shade screens, and a solar hot water system. Naturally, the facility is located near public transportation options including the light rail, many bus routes, and a regional bike station that has showers, lockers, and other services for commuters on bike.

 

 

Photo: John M. Quick/Flickr

 

Buildings A and B of the Arizona Biodesign Institute are LEED certified. The Arizona Biodesign Institute is a team of hundreds of researchers that are working on human health and environmental health projects. The institutes’ two existing buildings are LEED certified and the other two buildings will pursue LEED certification upon completion.

 

Building A, a 172,000 square-foot facility, opened in December 2004 and achieved LEED Gold certification. Arizona State University took it a step further with the opening of Building B in January 2006. The 175,000 square-foot building was the first LEED Platinum building in Arizona.

 

Photo: John M. Quick/Flickr