HOLLAND, MICH.—CityFlats Hotel is one of three new construction hotels in the world to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification in the Hotel/Resort Category. CityFlats, located on the corner of 7th St. and College Ave. in downtown Holland, is also the first hotel in the Midwest to be awarded this certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
According to USGBC, LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work.
GMB Architects-Engineers of Holland, Mich., was the architect and engineer for the project and developed the LEED documentation. GDK Construction, also of Holland, Mich., was the construction manager for the project.
CityFlats Hotel’s construction and design meet all of the rigorous LEED Gold Certification standards. These standards are divided into categories and include site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. CityFlats specifically excels in the water and energy efficiency categories by using 30 percent less water than baseline standards and by optimizing energy performance. CityFlats is also a leader in the use of sustainable materials. The hotel’s seating and décor was designed and manufactured using materials from rapidly renewable resources such as bamboo and cotton.
Another area where CityFlats exemplifies green construction is reliance on local manufacturing. More than 30 percent of the materials used to construct CityFlats Hotel’s structure, seating, and décor came from local sources and a majority of all finished products were manufactured in Holland. By eliminating reliance on imported products and materials, CityFlats has decreased the amount of fuel and energy used to transport products, enhanced the local economy, and minimized their carbon footprint.
Go to CityFlats for more information.
