Historic City Hall Receives Top LEED Rating for Sustainability

West Des Moines’ Historic City Hall has earned the highest possible designation for sustainability from the U.S. Green Building Council, a “platinum” rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Historic City Hall, located at 137 Fifth St., became so efficient with the sustainability improvements that in April 2012, the first full month of net metering, the building’s total energy use was 305 kilowat hours, costing $30.54

The Historic City Hall has become so efficient that in April 2012, the first full month of net metering, the building’s total energy use was 305kWh or $30.54.

“Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” Rick Redrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council said in the news release. “The West Des Moines Historic City Hall project efficiently uses our natural resources, and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come”.

To celebrate the achievement, an open house and reception will be held from 5-5:30 p.m. June 10  at the current city hall, 4200 Mills Civic Parkway. Following the reception the West Des Moines City Council will receive the LEED Platinum plaque to the City Council.

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 44,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising more than 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries.

Built in 1905, the Historic City Hall building is one of the strongest visible reminders of where the City of West Des Moines, formerly known as Valley Junction, began and is now home to a visitor center, meeting space and the offices of the Historic Valley Junction Foundation.  

The LEED rating system, developed by Green Building Council, is the principal program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

The city of West Des Moines acquired the Historic City Hall in 2007 and set about rehabilitating it as a demonstration project incorporating several sustainable building techniques, making use of 15 different grants, according to a news release.

Related: Historic City Hall Renovation Recognizes History and Incorporates Sustainability

• Existing window sashes were refinished and are now suspended as decorative ceiling “clouds.”   
  
• The original tin ceiling panels were reused for the frame around the bathroom mirrors and signage.  
  
• The large exterior doors once used for the fire truck entrance are now functioning as interior doors for the classroom space and the arched transom that was sitting above those doors is now being used to let daylight into the upper floor restroom.  

• Preservation Iowa’s 2011 Preservation at its Best – Sustainability in Preservation award;
  
• The Center of Sustainable Communities’ 2012 Environmental Impact Award – Built Environment – Commercial Project
  
• 2012 Main Street Iowa Design Award – Total Rehabilitation.