John Marshall has been awarded LEED Silver Certification. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
“This certification honors our commitment to educating our students in an innovative and sustainable environment, in the heart of our architecturally and culturally rich city,” Dean John E. Corkery said.
John Marshall’s campus expansion began in 2011. The project converted more than 3,600 square feet of first-floor retail space into a new student commons, cafeteria and main entrance onto Chicago’s iconic State Street. The new entrance is set off by a glass canopy and students walk into an expansive entryway. A specially designed glass and steel staircase off the lobby gives students access to the renovated student lounge area on the second floor.
The renovation also included the creation of the clinical and classroom space for the school’s Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic (VLSC). After meticulous research, that space was designed specifically to meet the needs of veterans who might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
John Marshall achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
General contractor Bulley & Andrews, LLC performed the renovation work designed by architectural firm Griskelis Young Harrell Architects, both of Chicago.
LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 44,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries.
“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedirizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, The John Marshall Law School is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”
