Norfolk Southern Corporation  announced that its new corporate headquarters building at 650 West Peachtree has been awarded LEED® Gold certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Gold certification was awarded for the building’s design and construction, which includes sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The headquarters at 650 West Peachtree is one of the first LEED Gold certified office buildings in Georgia. LEED-certified buildings are graded on design, construction, and operations practices that improve environmental and human health. Norfolk Southern earned 62 points under the new LEED v4 standards, including all points for the Water Efficiency category, which recognizes significant indoor and outdoor water use reduction. The USGBC awarded the project with all or the majority of points in the following categories:

• Water Efficiency: The rainwater captured through the campus and rooftop is reclaimed for reuse, resulting in water use reductions for irrigation by 100% and cooling tower demand by ~80% over a typical office building.
• Location and Transportation: The property is surrounded by high-density development including a Walk Score of 90 “Walker’s Paradise.” In addition to walkability, it was awarded top scores for access to quality transit and a reduced parking footprint with ample electric vehicle charging stations.
• Sustainable Sites: The building was designed to maximize open space, rainwater management, and heat island reduction using ground-level gardens and seven different rooftop terraces throughout the campus.
• Innovation in Design: The building features innovative design aspects directly linked to employee health and wellness. These include easy access to open stairwells with floor-to-ceiling glass walls and views of the city, adjustable, ergonomic workstations, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a large rooftop space, and more.

-via Press Release