LEED Certified Buildings
Lansing is a city that has always had a spirit of innovation. When the technology to preserve our past while conserving our future became available, Lansing responded. Lansing is the home to many great building projects, but its our spirit of smart growth and innovation that sets us apart.
Lansing is home to the first building to ever earn dual LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible designation granted by the United States Green Building Council. What makes this project unique is that rather than building a new structure, it emphasized the re-use of a 60,000 square foot historical landmark originally constructed in 1928. What was the headquarters to an insurance company back then, is now The Christman Building (named for its owners, Lansing's own Christman Company) overlooking the State Capitol Building in the heart of downtown.
While the Christman Building may be one of a kind, it was not the first LEED Certified building to receive accolades in Lansing. That distinction goes to General Motors who in 2006 opened the worlds first automotive manufacturing plant to ever receive any level of LEED Certification (it got Gold). Not only was it the first auto plant to get this award, but was also the largest facility and most complex manufacturing site to receive the designation. Lansing's Delta Twp. Assembly Plant is home to the wildly successful Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook. More evidence that even in our most storied traditions, we're finding new ways to innovate to conserve our future.
We look forward to even more success with LEED Designations, projects like the Printers Row and Cedar Street School revitalization will only bolster our LEED Certified portfolio. The impacts of these developments are immediate as they create jobs, investment, and increase property values, but the lasting impacts as they conserve resources will pay long lasting dividends.
