Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
An Award-Winning Building
The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center has been hailed by the US Green Building Council as the greenest building in the world. Our awards include:
US Green Building Council
LEED Platinum Certification
In October 2007, the Leopold Center was awarded the US Green Building Council’s highest distinction. The Leopold Center earned 61 of a possible 69 points in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building certification program, including the first “innovation” credit for carbon neutral operations; at the time, it was the highest LEED rating in the world. USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi traveled to The Leopold Center to present the award, citing the influence that Aldo Leopold had on his own thinking. The USGBC is composed of more than 12,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.
American Institute of Architects
2008 Top 10 Green Projects
The 2008 COTE Top Ten Green Projects program celebrates projects that are the result of a thoroughly integrated approach to architecture, natural systems and technology. They make a positive contribution to their communities, improve comfort for building occupants and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as reuse of existing structures, connection to transit systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, use of sustainable or renewable construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality. Awarded on Earth Day 2008.
Wisconsin Sustainability & Energy Efficiency (SE2) Leadership Awards
2007 Award of Excellence
Six professional organizations and associations and the energy efficiency program in Wisconsin have worked together to create this award program, which recognizes leadership in energy efficient and sustainable design, construction and operation of Wisconsin commercial and other non-residential buildings. The goal of the award is to encourage greater collaboration among owners, designers, builders, and operators by highlighting the value of projects that enhance the built environment.
US Green Building Council
2007 Leadership Award for Education
The USGBC Leadership Awards recognize companies and individuals who signify vision, leadership and commitment to the evolution of green building design and construction. The award was presented during the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago in November 2007.
Forest Stewardship Council-US
2007 Designing and Building with FSC Award
This award recognizes building projects that have furthered responsible forest management through their use of wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. FSC is regarded as the highest standard in certifying timber harvests that protect water quality, soil, wildlife habitat, and other elements of land health. Over 70 percent of the wood used in the Leopold Center was FSC-certified, much of it coming from the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s own property—including pines planted by Aldo Leopold and his family in the 1930s and ‘40s.
Sauk County Development Corporation
2007 Award of Special Distinction for Promotion of Sustainable Development
Each year the Sauk County Development Corporation recognizes two businesses or nonprofits for setting a standard of excellence in business practices and contributing to the community. For 2007 awards, the SCDC created a unique award to recognize the impact of the Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Wisconsin Builder Magazine
Top Projects of 2007
Wisconsin Builder Magazine identifies top projects across the state. The Aldo Leopold Foundation and its partners were highlighted in 2007 for employing “…innovative green-building techniques that can and likely will be copied by contractors for years to come.”
Wood Design and Building Magazine
2007 Wood Design Awards, Citation
Produced by the Canadian Wood Council, the Wood Design Award is the only North-America-wide program recognizing achievements in wood architecture, with the goal of fostering growth in the quality of architectural practices. Fifteen projects were selected from the over 200 entries to the awards program. These projects push the boundaries of conventional wood building practices and highlight the special qualities, versatility and sheer beauty of wood as a building material.
International Masonry Institute
2007 Golden Trowel Award
The Leopold Center was identified as the top project in Wisconsin for the Sustainable Use of Masonry. The award recognizes the achievements of the design and construction team, including The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.
Oscar J. Boldt Construction, Monona Masonry, and BAC Local 34 WI.