The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) can now hold itself out as an example of what green building is all about. The USGBC has a 22,000 square-foot office suite in the LEED Gold for New Construction (LEED-NC) Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Building. What's more incredible is that the USGBC's office suite just obtained LEED Platinum for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI). So the building is gold on the outside and platinum on the inside. That's a fairly powerful combination.

President, CEO & Founding Chair of the USGBC, Rick Fedrizzi, said: "We wanted to walk our talk by providing a highly functional, healthy and enjoyable work environment. We are already seeing an increase in collaboration and productivity as a result of the design scheme." The inside schematic is designed to foster interaction and collaboration, in an environmentally friendly way. Designed by Perkins + Will and contracted by Davis Construction, this office space is above and beyond any ordinary space. Here's a list of some of the green features:

• Renewable bamboo flooring
• Reused granite countertops
• Non-toxic paint on the walls
• Abundant natural light (93% of the interior has a view of the outdoors)
• Recyclable ceiling tiles
• High-efficiency and low-energy use lighting
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures, dual-flush toilets, and waterless urinals
• Terrazzo flooring in the elevator lobby
• Fully recyclable carpet tiles and cork fooring

One of the goals with the project was to create space that was not only green, but good looking. As green buildings, homes, and interiors become more prevalent, green materials are getting better and more available. Not to mention modern and aesthetic as well. Via GreenSource + USGBC.

Photo Credit: Sara Harding/USGBC