The Iowa Department of Administrative Services announced on Dec. 11 that the Iowa Laboratories Facility in Ankeny earned the certified level for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green certification system is an international program that rates the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification: certified, silver, gold and platinum. The Ankeny facility received LEED certification.

The State Hygienic Laboratory is one of four state agencies in the complex. The others are the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Public Safety - Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Department of Public Health - State Medical Examiner.

The 176,000 square foot Iowa Laboratories Facility is located on the campus of Des Moines Area Community College. It opened in 2005 with a total construction cost of approximately $51 million. During construction, 50 percent of the waste was diverted from the landfill, a key metric in attaining LEED certification.

Recent energy efficiency efforts cut energy use 32 percent compared to fiscal year 2008. Some of the facility’s sustainability features include efficient lighting and controls, water-conserving fixtures, prairie landscaping and an integrated pest management plan. The facility also achieved LEED credits for using recycled materials, locally harvested and manufactured materials, low VOC-emitting (volatile organic compound) materials and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood products.

“The USGBC Iowa Chapter is excited to present Iowa Laboratories Facility with a plaque recognizing their achievement of LEED Certification,” said Jennifer Voorhees, Chairperson of the Iowa Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. “This certification is quite an accomplishment given the diversity of functions this facility provides for the State of Iowa.”

Posing with the LEED certified seal are (from left)Travis Knight, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Dr. Julia Goodin, State Medical Examiner, Don Simmons, Ph.D., State Hygienic Laboratory - Ankeny, and Bruce Reeve, Department of Public Safety - Division of Criminal Investigation.