Nonprofit Catherine’s Health Center Gets the Gold

Catherine’s Health Center, located at 1211 Lafayette in downtown Grand Rapids, announced that it has received LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is the USGBC’s lead rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient, and high-performing buildings.

“Catherine’s Health Center has a long history of stewardship,” said Executive Director Karen Kaashoek in a press release, “so it only made sense to approach our new clinic design with the strongest environmental stewardship in mind as well.  We are honored to be joining the ranks of LEED certified buildings in our community, and are grateful for the support from our funders which made this level of excellence possible.” Catherine’sHealthCenteris the only free clinic in theMidwest, and one of only a handful in the entire nation, to receive the prestigious award.

CHC was designed by architect John LaPorte and Associates who led the design construction team to achieve LEED Gold certification for energy use, lighting, and water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. LEED verifies environmental performance, occupant health, and financial return. LEED was established for market leaders to design and construct buildings that protect and save precious resources while also working well economically.

“Given the task of achieving a LEED basic certification, the leadership of CHS’s staff and board helped to accelerate the certification level to Gold with no additional cost, the third highest level of certification within the LEED rating system,” said Eric Doyle of Catalyst Partners in a prepared statement. “With the effort of the design and construction teams, generous donations from local philanthropic groups, and financial incentives through a local utility company, achieving significant energy reduction and a superior indoor environment was easily attainable.”

The project successfully documented a 53% reduction in mechanical heating and cooling costs and a 35% reduction in water usage over baseline standards, which will reduce overall operating costs and allow the organization to provide more high-quality health care services to the surrounding neighborhoods in their healthy and sustainably operated facility.