White Oak Medical Center Is Now LEED Gold Certified

Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center in Maryland, United States, has been awarded the Healthcare LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the design, construction, and operations of its more than 500,000-square-foot (around 46,450 square-meter) hospital and 48-acre (19.4-hectare) campus. 

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard, developed by the USGBC, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence.

LEED-certified buildings and campuses are helping to make the world more sustainable through practices that improve environmental and human health. White Oak Medical Center is the first hospital campus in Maryland to receive this prestigious Healthcare LEED Gold certification and recognition.

White Oak Medical Center’s campus received the certification based on a number of design and construction features positively impacting the environment, the community, and the hospital. Some of these features include:

Energy and resources. By implementing energy-efficient equipment, 100-percent LED lighting, and onsite power generation, the hospital saves enough energy annually to power 310 homes. Various measurements and verification monitoring are in place to ensure that all equipment and power supply continues to work efficiently.

Water efficiency. The equipment used in the hospital was chosen for its resource efficiency, including low-flow fixtures, cooling towers, and bio-digesters to help break down food waste.

Materials and resources. Nearly half of the building was designed with sustainable materials from sustainable resources, and nearly 85 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill. The building was designed for flexibility to allow both vertical and horizontal expansion in the future.

Indoor environmental quality. Adventist HealthCare patients receive optimal thermal comfort as all patient rooms include individually controlled thermostats. When building the hospital, low emitting materials were chosen, as well as a system that allows for use and monitoring of outdoor air delivery.

Sustainable sites. When choosing the hospital’s location, Adventist HealthCare committed to preserving 65 percent of the campus as open space, with a focus on protecting and restoring habitat. The hospital offers public transportation access and parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.

“In addition to sustainability for the community and environment, White Oak Medical Center was also awarded the Healthcare LEED Gold certification for its human-centric design,” White Oak Medical Center president Anthony Stahl said. “You’ll notice the building’s wood-like exterior reflects the forested setting it resides in, and that we offer public spaces filled with natural light, a roof garden, courtyards, a dining terrace, and walking trails to promote a restorative healing environment for patients, family, and team members.”

“Achieving LEED certification is more than just implementing sustainable practices,” USGBC CEO Peter Templeton said. “It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better. Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role buildings play in that effort, Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center is creating a path forward through their LEED certification.”

About Adventist HealthCare

Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center is a state-of-the-art acute care hospital located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and part of Montgomery County–based Adventist HealthCare. White Oak Medical Center offers a full range of health services, including a comprehensive and nationally recognized heart program, cancer care, maternity care, and surgical and emergency care.

White Oak Medical Center is a neighbor and research partner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and at the center of the emerging White Oak Science Gateway in Montgomery County.

The original version of this story was posted by Adventist HealthCare.