durability and long-term protection capability.
“Seward Johnson’s “Return Visit” is a timeless
and inspirational piece of art,” said Michael Cash,
Axalta Senior Vice President and President, Industrial
Coatings. “Axalta works diligently to diversify our technology
portfolio to be able to provide protection, beauty and reliability
from primer to topcoat paint layers. This is a great example of
what can be achieved with a broad portfolio of products.”
The poignant piece depicts President Lincoln discussing the
Gettysburg Address with a contemporary citizen, demonstrating
the timeless relevance of its message. “Return Visit” is currently
on exhibit at Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
USGBC Releases Annual Top 10 States for
LEED Green Building
USGBC has announced the Top 10 States for LEED, an annual
ranking that highlights states throughout the United States that
made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation over the past year. LEED is the world’s
most widely used and recognized green building rating system.
Topping the list is Massachusetts, which moved from third to
first place, with a total of 136 LEED-certified projects representing 3.73 square feet of certified space per resident.
“LEED guides our buildings, cities, communities and neigh-
borhoods to become more resource- and energy-efficient,
Now in its seventh year, the ranking assesses the total square
feet of LEED-certified space per resident based on U.S. Census data
and includes commercial and institutional green building projects
certified during 2016. Illinois and Colorado are the only two states
to have made the list every year since 2010, and New York has
returned to the rankings after a one-year hiatus.
A continued presence on the list from Maryland and
Virginia has reaffirmed the mid-Atlantic region, which includes Washington, D.C., as the center of green building. While
Washington, D.C., is not included in the list of top states, due
to its status as a federal territory, it is notable for its 29.04
square feet of LEED space per resident, more than any individual state.
This year’s list has the highest average (2.55 square feet) per
capita of LEED-certified space among the top 10 states since
2010. Four of the nine states included in the 2015 list increased
the square feet of space they certified per resident in 2016
(Massachusetts, Colorado, California and Virginia). The full
ranking is as follows:
Notable projects certified in 2016’s Top 10 States for LEED
include:
• Massachusetts: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center,
the location of Greenbuild 2017; LEED Silver
• Colorado: Riverside Library and Cultural Center; LEED
Gold
•Illinois: Chiaravalle Montessori School, North Wing;
LEED Platinum
• New York: World Trade Center Tower One; LEED Gold
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 because it is a federal district, not a state.
