WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) celebrated the opening of its new headquarters at 2021 L Street, NW, in downtown Washington, D.C. At this event, which was attended by members of the Society, representatives from the association community, and other local leaders, ASH announced that the building had been designated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum for New Construction, making ASH the first nonprofit association in the country to achieve LEED Platinum certification on a commercial office building larger than 80,000 square feet. ASH's headquarters is now one of only seven LEED Platinum commercial office buildings in the District of Columbia. LEED Platinum certification is the most difficult and highest designation given by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which developed a certification system to guide organizations in building and renovating space with sustainability in mind. Many of the materials used for the ASH facility were regionally sourced and manufactured using recycled products, including the wood materials, which are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a nonprofit organization that encourages the use of products harvested using an environmentally responsible method. Notably, the design and construction costs remained within ASH's budget - and the space will continue to prove cost- and energy-efficient, with plenty of natural light, low-flow plumbing and water-efficient showerheads, a motion-sensitive lighting system, and low-energy light fixtures.
