The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process in 2000. Since then, tens of thousands of ground-up and retrofit buildings have received LEED certification, identifying them as sustainable, healthy, and energy-efficient. Standing atop the USGBC’s ranking system is LEED Platinum, a high-level certification awarded to Wells Fargo for its recently opened regional headquarters campus in Irving, TX. The 22-acre, two-building, 850,000-square-foot campus is the financial institution’s first and flagship eco-friendly, net-positive project. “Wells Fargo set the standard from the beginning of the process,” said Jeremy Hunt, KDC Senior Project Manager. “The company wanted to create a campus that’s welcoming to its employees by doing everything it could to support sustainability.”

Starting the Process LEED certification involves more than setting out recycling containers or installing motion-sensor lights. The path to official accreditation requires the willingness and ability of all involved parties to invest time, commitment, and resources in the process. The approach requires a series of actions, applications, and registrations, whether the goal is LEED Certified (40 to 49 points) or LEED Platinum (80 points and above). From the beginning, Wells Fargo set its sights on LEED Platinum certification. As a result, the design team led by architecture firm Corgan and engineering firm Telios incorporated high-level green systems into the design well before groundbreaking. The team’s plans included the use of low-carbon materials, native and drought-tolerant landscaping, water re-use tactics, and the installation of over 11,000 photovoltaic solar panels. “When the design team submitted plans to the USGBC, the design review achieved more than 60 points – equivalent to LEED Gold,” Hunt said. Moving Ahead The project’s general contractor, Austin Commercial, was responsible for constructing the campus, including the solar panels on the buildings and parking garage; sourcing materials regionally, including low-carbon concrete; and commissioning high-efficiency chillers and outdoor air units. The buildings further reduce energy consumption by using SageGlass electrochromic-glazed windows, which offer controllable tints to reduce heat gain and glare. “By following the LEED requirements and tracking and submitting the proper documentation, Austin Commercial helped the project secure the remaining credits needed to achieve LEED Platinum status,” Hunt said. Wells Fargo’s vision and the development team’s efforts also led to the creation of a net-positive energy campus. A net-positive build goes beyond net zero, generating more electricity than it consumes. Hunt explained that the solar panels are modeled to generate more electricity than the campus uses annually. Next Steps These days, builders, developers, and owners are incorporating sustainability initiatives into their planning. “Many owners and municipalities are requiring green building practices,” Hunt observed. At the same time, relatively few large campuses have achieved LEED Platinum certification, and net-positive buildings are still rare in the United States. But this state of affairs likely won’t last forever. As sustainability moves from amenity to necessity, LEED Platinum certifications, along with net-positive developments, could become more common. Additionally, “with municipalities incorporating sustainability into building codes and owners placing a premium on long-term performance, we see a clear trend toward higher standards and smarter systems,” Hunt observed. “This will result in buildings that give more to their communities than they take.”