Gary C. Werths Building earns LEED Gold
Project team identified more environmentally friendly solutions throughout the building process
Huy Mach/WashU MedicineThe Gary C. Werths Building at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, was recently recognized with LEED Gold certification.
The Gary C. Werths Building at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Buildings that achieve this recognition must meet stringent criteria in categories such as energy efficiency, water conservation and material recycling — all indicators of lower environmental impact. The nine-story Werths Building opened in September 2024 on the Washington University Medical Campus.
While numerous factors such as monitoring energy use and improving air quality contributed to the accomplishment, the WashU Medicine Operations and Facilities Management team’s embodied carbon effort set it apart. The Embodied Carbon Program was developed by WashU Medicine and the Werths Building’s project management team. It involves maintaining a comprehensive inventory of materials used during a building’s design, procurement and construction, and identifying more environmentally friendly alternatives throughout the process. Carbon-conscious decision-making informed everything from choosing more eco-friendly carpet and concrete to preventing unnecessary transportation and construction waste.
In total, WashU Medicine’s energy reduction efforts have avoided 4.2 million kg Co2e in emissions, equivalent to 208 garbage trucks of waste recycled instead of sent to a landfill. WashU Medicine has since incorporated the Embodied Carbon Program into its design standards for future projects and has provided training on it for the WashU Office of Sustainability.
The Werths Building provides a healing environment for patients, with the design focused on their comfort and convenience and reducing the need to return for multiple appointments. Within its walls, WashU Medicine physicians also offer access to more than 600 clinical trials designed to assess the effectiveness of innovative treatments and applications for people with various cancer types.
The LEED point system is widely recognized as the industry standard for green buildings in the United States and more than 160 countries around the world. The more points a building earns, the higher its LEED rating will be. There are four levels of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points). The Werths Building was awarded all 65 points that were submitted.
