U.S. District Courthouse in Newport News achieves LEED-NC certification

The General Services Administration, U.S. District Courthouse in Newport News, Va., recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-NC Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The project team for the new facility, which opened in February, included the owner, Scannell Properties of Indianapolis; the general contractor, Kiewit Building Group of Omaha, Neb.; and the architectural/engineering firm, Leo A Daly, also of Omaha.

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. To achieve the LEED-NC goal, numerous sustainable design features were implemented. These include the use of recycled and regional materials, low-volatile organic compound paints and coatings, and an energy-efficient building envelope. The heating, ventilation, cooling, and electrical systems also contributed to gaining LEED points because of their energy efficiency. The project site received the maximum points possible for water containment and conservation, as well as high solar reflectance.

The 38,000-square-foot courthouse houses District and Magistrate Courtrooms, District Clerk staff, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Attorney’s offices, as well as judges’ chambers, jury rooms, and holding rooms.

Photo courtesy of Tom Kessler Photography