Plans were approved Saturday for the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, gold certified building in Arlington County--a 16-story, 250,000 square foot complex which would include residential and commercial space, as well as a three-story parking deck, according to the Washington Examiner.
The “mixed-use” plan is ideal in order to make residents less dependent on cars and transit, according to board member Chris Zimmerman.
Platinum is the highest LEED rating, followed by gold, silver and certified. Buildings are rated by the Green Building Council based on energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
The Arlington building would use storm water for irrigation, have a recycling room for tenants, as well as bike racks, and get 35 percent power from a green source grid, the Examiner reported.
The complex would replace the seven-story building and two-story parking deck currently located on 14th Street North between North Troy and North Taft streets.
Construction would begin by March or April 2010.
