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Architecture News

USGBC Announces Top 10 States for LEED in 2016

By Miriam Sitz
LEED Top 10 2016

#1 Massachusetts: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the location of Greenbuild 2017; LEED Silver

Photo courtesy Viñoly

LEED Top 10 2016

#2 Colorado: Riverside Library & Cultural Center; LEED Gold

Photo courtesy Roth Sheppard Architects

LEED Top 10 2016

#3 Illinois: Chiaravalle Montessori School, North Wing; LEED Platinum

Photo courtesy CannonDesign

LEED Top 10 2016

#4 New York: World Trade Center Tower One; LEED Gold

Photo courtesy SOM

LEED Top 10 2016

#5 California: Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center; LEED Platinum

Photo courtesy HOK

LEED Top 10 2016
LEED Top 10 2016
LEED Top 10 2016
LEED Top 10 2016
LEED Top 10 2016
January 25, 2017

This morning, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) revealed its list of the Top 10 States for LEED in 2016.

Massachusetts leads the pack this year, with 136 LEED certified projects representing 3.73 square feet of certified space per resident. The state moved to the top of the list from third place last year.

Washington, D.C., (which, due to its status as a federal district rather than a state, is not ranked) had 120 LEED certified projects completed in 2016, for 29.04 square feet of certified space per resident—a far higher ratio than any individual state.

The USGBC calculates the rankings by assessing the total square feet of LEED-certified space per resident, taking into account commercial and institutional projects that were certified during 2016.

“LEED guides our buildings, cities, communities and neighborhoods to become more resource and energy efficient, healthier for occupants and more competitive in the marketplace,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC. “The green building movement continues to evolve with advancements in technology, benchmarking and transparency, and the states on this list are leading the way toward a more sustainable future.”

Across the U.S., 3,366 projects were LEED certified in 2016.

Find the complete Top 10 list below, and an infographic from the USGBC here.

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2016 Top 10 States for LEED
Rank State Certified Gross
Square Footage
(GSF)
Per-capita Certified
GSF
Total No.
Projects
1 MA* 24,398,765 3.73 136
2 CO* 15,921,457 3.17 92
3 IL* 36,188,485 2.82 151
4 NY 48,405,204 2.5 211
5 CA* 88,891,641 2.39 632
6 NV* 6,397,602 2.37 22
7 MD* 13,426,623 2.33 104
8 VA* 18,444,309 2.31 155
9 WA* 15,103,478 2.25 105
10 TX* 41,942,393 1.67 211
** DC 17,476,447 29.04 120

*Included in 2015 Top 10 States for LEED list

**Washington, D.C. is not ranked as it is a federal district, not a state

KEYWORDS: LEED USGBC

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Miriam Sitz was a staff writer and editor for Architectural Record from 2015 to 2020, during which time she served as the web editor, then senior news & web editor.

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