For immediate release
July 20, 2026
Eighth LEED-certified project completed by City of Charlottesville
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Today the City of Charlottesville announces that Charlottesville’s Fire Station 1, located at 345 250 US-Bypass, has been awarded LEED Gold certification.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction, and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.
“In Charlottesville, buildings account for over 50 percent of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile. By designing and constructing the Fire Station 1 project to LEED standards, the City and its project team have demonstrated a continued, strong commitment to long-term vision of conserving energy and promoting environmentally sustainable building practices,” said Kristel Riddervold, the Director of the Office of Sustainability.
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Fire Station 1 is a high-performance public safety facility that prioritizes sustainability, energy efficiency, occupant health, and long-term operational value. The 7,800 square-foot station includes an apparatus bay, apparatus support spaces, watch office, administrative offices, kitchen, dining area, dayroom, fitness room, and dormitory accommodations for station personnel. The building orientation and layout maximizes daylight throughout occupied spaces and provides views of the surrounding woods. This connection to the natural environment enhances the daily experience of station personnel while reducing reliance on artificial lighting.
Some of the high-performance building aspects of this project include a 31kW solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop array and high efficiency HVAC systems that achieve energy performance 51% better than the standard baseline, indoor water usage that has been reduced by 35%, materials selections that focused on sustainable characteristics, and reduction of both light pollution and heat island conditions.
“Achieving LEED Gold reflects the City’s commitment to responsible infrastructure investment, reducing long-term operating costs, improving energy performance, and advancing the City’s climate and sustainability goals through the development of high-performance public facilities,” says Steven Hicks, Department of Public Works Director.
“LEED certification is the ultimate recognition of global green building leadership, signaling that a space has undergone rigorous third-party verification and meets the highest green building standards,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “The success of LEED is due to the partnership and support of those committed to advancing green building and sustainability. Each new LEED certification brings us one step closer to revolutionizing the spaces where we live, learn, work, and play.”
About the U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. For more information about USGBC and LEED® Green Building Rating System™, visit www.usgbc.org.
