USGBC Announces First Projects Certified Under LEED v5

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the global developer of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program, announced the first projects to achieve certification under the LEED v5 program. The first LEED v5 projects represent a diverse set of building types across sectors and around the world, highlighting the global adaptability, broad adoption, and ease of use of the LEED rating system.

In 2023, USGBC opened an early version of the LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) rating system for a select group of project teams worldwide. Sixty projects from around the world were accepted into the program, with nearly one-third of all projects successfully completing certification to date. These building projects helped inform and shape the newest version of LEED and represent a unique range of building types—from office buildings to warehouse and distribution centers to retail shops. This inaugural class of projects, which are the first to earn certification, represents over 12 million square feet of space across nine countries.

"The first LEED v5 projects are trailblazers, not only demonstrating green building leadership but also playing a critical role in shaping today’s definition of a high-performing, resilient, healthy, and sustainable building,” said Sarah Zaleski, chief products officer, USGBC. “By serving as early users of the rating system, these building projects have helped refine and strengthen LEED v5 and exemplify how it can be adapted to every building type, sector, and market around the world."

Portobello Shop Jardim Social in Curitiba, Brazil, became the first project to achieve certification under LEED v5, earning Platinum certification in October 2024. The project prioritized energy optimization, responsible water management, and occupant and customer health and well-being and serves as a model for integrating sustainability in the retail sector.

"What our clients really care about are the benefits delivered when the building enters operation,” said Guido Petinelli, founder and CEO, Petinelli Inc., the consulting firm responsible for Portobello Shop. “Measuring performance is critical to show that we are delivering on our promises of reduced operating costs and increased comfort and well-being of occupants. When that happens, pursuing LEED O+M is a foregone conclusion for these clients.”

More than half of all the LEED v5 certified projects have achieved Platinum level certification. The first LEED v5 certified projects are in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Among them are:

Project Name: Portobello Shop Jardim Social
Location: Curitiba, Brazil
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 certified project in the world

Project Name: Torre Diana
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in North America 

Project Name: Ascent MKE
Location: Milwaukee (Wis.), USA
Certification: LEED Silver
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in the U.S.

Project Name: Tlalnepark IV Nave 2
Location: Tlalnepantla, Mexico
Certification: LEED Gold
Distinction: First LEED v5 warehouse and distribution center 

Project Name: Citigroup Center
Location: Miami (Fla.), USA
Certification: LEED Silver
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Florida

Project Name: BranchPattern Omaha
Location: Omaha (Neb.), USA 
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 Platinum project in the U.S.

Project Name: One Bush Street
Location: San Francisco (Calif.), USA  
Certification: LEED Gold
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in California

Project Name: International Commerce Centre
Location: Hong Kong   
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Asia and largest LEED v5 certified project in the world

Project Name: Hung Kuo Building
Location: Taipei    
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Taiwan 

Project Name: Gianni Giorgi-Alberti
Location: Frascati, Italy
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Europe 

Project Name: Sarona Tower
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in the Middle East 

Project Name: Xfinity Mobile Arena
Location: Philadelphia (Penn.), USA  
Certification: LEED Gold
Distinction: First LEED v5 sports and entertainment venue

Project Name: TAIPEI 101
Location: Taipei
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: Four-time LEED Platinum certified project and the tallest building to achieve LEED v5 certification

Project Name: Kvarngärdet 1:19 Tornet
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Certification: LEED Platinum
Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Sweden

According to the UN Environment Programme, the built environment accounts for approximately 40 percent of all global carbon emissions, with building operations responsible for 27 percent of those emissions. Because nearly two-thirds of buildings that will be in use in 2040 already exist today, it is critical to ensure that both new construction and existing buildings begin a path toward decarbonization. 

LEED buildings have been proven to use less energy, reduce utility costs and set a building on a pathway toward decarbonization in studies from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Earlier this year, USGBC launched LEED v5 for registration–the newest version of its flagship green building program. The new rating system focuses on three main pillars–decarbonization, quality of life and ecological conservation and restoration–with decarbonization accounting for half of total points available toward certification.

Certification will be available for all LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) projects in the fall. Certification for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) will become available later this year.