U.S. Green Building Council awards Saint Luke’s Health System corporate and Hospice House with LEED certifications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Saint Luke’s Health System’s corporate office was awarded a LEED Silver Certification this week from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). In August, Saint Luke’s Hospice House earned a LEED Gold Designation. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program recognizing best-in-class building strategies and practices.
LEED certification is recognized internationally as the premier mark of achievement in green building. Businesses that receive these levels of certification from the USGBC have proven a commitment to the environment through mindful architectural design and construction. LEED-certified buildings cost less to operate, reducing energy and water costs by as much as 40 percent.
Saint Luke’s corporate headquarters, located at I-435 and Holmes Rd., in Kansas City, Missouri, is a nearly 65,000 square-foot building. The 30-year-old building was transformed into an energy-efficient space by reconfiguring and adding to the heating and cooling systems, including additional controls and thermostats to adjust for occupancy loads and schedules to avoid simultaneous heating and cooling. Occupancy and daylight sensors were installed to automatically control the new energy efficient LED lighting and control the lighting levels based on the amount of natural light in the space, decreasing the amount of energy used. A large percentage of the construction waste was recycled on this project as well diverting it from the landfills. Additionally, the company reused and repurposed most of the furniture from its previous office spaces.
Saint Luke’s Hospice House, located at 3516 Summit Street in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in July 2013. The 22,000-square-foot, free-standing hospice facility includes 12 individual patient suites, a full-service kitchen, a family dining room, and more. The LEED Gold certification is the second building award for the Hospice House. Since the house opened in July of 2013, it has also received the People’s Choice Award for its architectural design from the American Institute of Architects.
To achieve the Gold level of recognition, Saint Luke’s Hospice House recycled materials from the demolition of the previous facility that stood on the ground, created landscaping that required less water, and used an environmentally friendly type of shingle on the roof. Additionally, Hospice House was built along a bus route to maximize the use of public transportation, and the parking lot provides bicycle racks, and parking for energy efficient vehicles.
“These two certifications prove that Saint Luke’s is not only dedicated to providing exceptional care to our patients, but we also strive to be good stewards of the environment and of our Kansas City community,” Chuck Robb, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Saint Luke’s Health System, said. “As Saint Luke’s continues to grow and evolve, we will persist in showing this level of commitment to protecting our resources and making our spaces as eco-friendly as possible.”
About the U.S Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous, healthy and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.
About Saint Luke’s Health System
Saint Luke’s Health System consists of 10 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.