The City of Los Angeles

The new Lake View Terrace Library

In 2002 the Los Angeles city council voted unanimously to require all city-funded building projects to meet the LEED Certified level for environmentally sound construction, starting in July of 2003.

Under the mandate, all new buildings will be designed to be more water and energy efficient, use recycled or renewable materials, and be more environmentally friendly.

"The city has a strong commitment to green building, and there's a commitment to try and be leaders and allied partners with other public agencies who are implementing green building," said City Architect Deborah Weintraub.

With over $2 billion in city construction slated to be LEED certified over the next few years, including 18 fire stations, a police station, seven animal shelters and one library, that's a lot of buildings. Fifty other projects were already designed when the mandate was passed and will implement some green building elements, even though they may not be certified.

The Lake View Terrace Library is nearly complete

One building - the Lake View Terrace Library - will be LEED Gold certified, one of the highest levels possible. Perched way up on the northern edge of the San Fernando Valley, the library sits just behind Hansen Dam, slightly to the east of where the Interstate 5 descends into Los Angeles, and is nearly complete. The 10,700-square foot library and Environmental Awareness Resource Center, designed by Greenworks and Fields Deveraux Architects, is partially funded by the state and by local improvement funds, and will feature solar cells, natural lighting and a cooling tower to control the indoor temperature.

"I see it as an issue that is no longer marginal but has become very mainstream," said Weintraub of green building. "I do feel like it's an approach that's really come of age, that there is a momentum building. I think it's kind of reached a critical mass."