Why Green Buildings?

At the Office of the City Architect, our goal is to promote and implement sustainability rating systems that compliment green building efforts, expands sustainable networks and improve green infrastructure in accordance with the goals of the City of Austin. By designing and planning for the future, we are able to improve the environment of our home here at the state capital. Each project links to the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan by reducing energy, water, waste, traffic emissions, as well as improving indoor air quality.

How Does LEED Work?

How Does LEED Work?

9 Sections referenced from the LEED BD+C Handbook

Integrative Process

Integrative Process

The Integrative process supports high-performance, cost-effective project outcomes through an early analysis of the interrelationships among systems.

Location &Transportation

Before design begins, an integrated design team must conduct a comprehensive site assessment of existing physical, biological, and cultural conditions that will inform planning and design.

Sustainable Sites

Projects that are designed to conserve water, maximize the use of precipitation, and protect water quality encourage strategies and technologies that restore and mimic natural systems.

water efficiency

Proper soil management as a design element and construction priority can serve as the foundation for robust vegetation, filtering pollutants and help prevent excess runoff, erosion, sedimentation, and flooding.

Energy & Atmosphere

The demolition, selection, procurement, and use of materials in site design and construction present considerable opportunities to decrease the amount of materials sent to landfills, to preserve natural resources, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to support the use of sustainable building products.

Materials & resources

Outdoor opportunities for physical activity, restorative and aesthetic experiences, and social interaction are promoted. Projects are encouraged to address social equity in their design and development choices.

Indoor Environmental quality

Sustainable construction encourages projects to protect air quality through low-emitting equipment, strive for a net-zero waste site, ensure healthy vegetation through soil restoration strategies, and protect receiving waters from polluted runoff and sedimentation

Innovation

O+M promotes maintenance strategies that maximize the site’s long-term potential in providing ecosystem services. Strategies include reducing material disposal, ensuring long-term health of soil and vegetation, reducing pollution, conserving energy, and encouraging the use of renewable energy.

REgional priority

SITES requires careful planning and the protection of existing, functioning natural features that are unique, critical, sensitive, or threatened, such as farmlands, floodplains, wetlands, and wildlife habitats.

9 Sections referenced from the LEED BD+C Handbook

How Does LEED Work?

Location &Transportation

Sustainable Sites

Integrative Process

The Integrative process supports high-performance, cost-effective project outcomes through an early analysis of the interrelationships among systems.

Before design begins, an integrated design team must conduct a comprehensive site assessment of existing physical, biological, and cultural conditions that will inform planning and design.

Projects that are designed to conserve water, maximize the use of precipitation, and protect water quality encourage strategies and technologies that restore and mimic natural systems.

water efficiency

Proper soil management as a design element and construction priority can serve as the foundation for robust vegetation, filtering pollutants and help prevent excess runoff, erosion, sedimentation, and flooding.

Energy & Atmosphere

The demolition, selection, procurement, and use of materials in site design and construction present considerable opportunities to decrease the amount of materials sent to landfills, to preserve natural resources, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to support the use of sustainable building products.

Materials & resources

Outdoor opportunities for physical activity, restorative and aesthetic experiences, and social interaction are promoted. Projects are encouraged to address social equity in their design and development choices.

Indoor Environmental quality

Sustainable construction encourages projects to protect air quality through low-emitting equipment, strive for a net-zero waste site, ensure healthy vegetation through soil restoration strategies, and protect receiving waters from polluted runoff and sedimentation

Innovation

O+M promotes maintenance strategies that maximize the site’s long-term potential in providing ecosystem services. Strategies include reducing material disposal, ensuring long-term health of soil and vegetation, reducing pollution, conserving energy, and encouraging the use of renewable energy.

REgional priority

SITES requires careful planning and the protection of existing, functioning natural features that are unique, critical, sensitive, or threatened, such as farmlands, floodplains, wetlands, and wildlife habitats.

Water Treatment Plant 4 Administration Building

Austin Animal Center Kennel Addition

New Central Library

CURRENT LEED PROJECTS

PLATINUM CERTIFIED PROJECTS