About
ASLA Center on Landscape Architecture: Headquarters Operations
The ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture,
the headquarters of the American Society of Landscape Architects in
Washington, D.C, is a showcase for how to apply the highest standards of
sustainable architectural and landscape design to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while improving occupant health and well-being.
In
2023, ASLA commissioned Honeycomb Strategies to conduct a baseline
sustainability assessment of its headquarters greenhouse emissions, water use, and waste
generated. The assessment will be released in first quarter 2024.
100% Renewable Energy
The Center is entirely powered by locally-sourced wind power.
LEED Platinum and WELL Gold Certification
The
12,600-square-foot headquarters was built in 1995 and completely renovated
in 2016 to achieve LEED Platinum
certification. The renovation focused on maximizing energy efficiency,
storing carbon in sustainable wood materials and native trees and
plants, and improving human health and well-being.
ASLA also achieved WELL Gold certification by improving indoor air quality, lighting, nourishment, and promoting active lifestyles.
ASLA Green Roof
The Center's green roof, designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates,
includes a unique sedum floor covered with a mesh grate that enables
visitors to walk over much of the green roof surface. Some key benefits
of the roof:
- Captures all stormwater: Any roof run-off is channeled to a
700-gallon cistern and used to irrigate the ground-level outdoor patio space, which is
filled with native plants and features a green wall.
- Reduces the local urban heat island effect:
the roof is as much as 59 F cooler than the conventional black roofs on
neighboring buildings.
- Reduces building energy use: The roof's trees, plants, and
engineered soils cool the center during the summer and providing
insulation in the winter.
- Sequestering carbon: The roof captures and stores carbon in its trees, plants, and soils.
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Incentives for Low-Emission Commutes
Since 2005, ASLA has been named a Best Workplace for Commuters.
ASLA provides financial incentivizes to employees to walk, bike, or
ride Metro to work, which reduces transportation-related greenhouse gas
emissions. ASLA also removed one of its parking spaces in order to make way for multiple bicycle parking spaces.