Expo Line Phase 2 Extension receives Envision Platinum certification

Los Angeles — Skanska announced that the Expo Line Phase 2 Extension received Envision Platinum certification from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). It is the first transit project to receive the certification as well as Skanska’s first Envision-certified project. Additionally, at more than $700 million, it is the largest project by contract value to achieve the certification.

Much like LEED for building construction, Envision is a resource for professionals involved in planning, designing, building, and maintaining civil infrastructure. The system provides a holistic framework for evaluating and rating the community, environmental, and economic benefits of all types and sizes of infrastructure projects. Administered by ISI, Envision consists of a broad range of criteria that address a project’s impact on the surrounding community and environment, technical considerations regarding materials and processes, and other critical choices spanning the project’s lifecycle.

“This is a significant milestone for every stakeholder involved in this project,” said Skanska USA Chief Sustainability Officer Elizabeth Heider. “As the global green community converges in Los Angeles for Greenbuild, Expo 2’s Envision certification shows that, no matter what you’re building, it can be built green. The potential to combine well-accepted green standards like LEED for buildings with Envision’s rubric for infrastructure opens the door to district-level green planning like never before.

“Like LEED for buildings, Envision provides a language and a metric for infrastructure intended to inspire and reveal sustainable performance,” Heider said. “This Platinum award is a testament to the ambition and commitment of LA Metro and the entire Expo 2 team and their commitment to put a green spotlight on their work.”

Completed by the Skanska-Steve P. Rados Construction joint venture last spring, the Expo Line extension extends LA Metro light rail service from Culver City to Santa Monica, ultimately connecting downtown LA to the Pacific beaches. The project received points toward its certification based on measures taken to improve quality of life surrounding the project, leadership in long-term sustainability planning, material usage and existing environment considerations. Some specific highlights included recognition for local hiring of craft labor, sourcing regional materials to the highest standards of the Envision program and for integrating the new line with other means of transit from bus systems to bike paths.

Attendees of the annual Greenbuild Conference & Expo have the opportunity to tour the project as part of the event’s green tours at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3. This is the first time an infrastructure project has been included in the event’s program. More details can be found at https://greenbuildexpo.com/Attendee/Schedule/SessionDetails/38619.  

Skanska has been on the leading edge of green building for nearly two decades. One of the only ISO 14001-certified construction managers and general contractors, Skanska was among the first to embrace LEED when it launched in 1998. It has played a role in seven Living Building projects nationally and has been engaged with the WELL Building Institute and its WELL standard. Skanska is also a charter member of ISI and sits on its Envision review board. Skanska USA Civil has also committed that, by 2020, all of its projects will seek Envision certification.