The William – one of the former Horlick Manufacturing buildings historically renovated into modern urban multifamily housing by J. Jeffers & Co. – was recently awarded LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The William, part of the transformative Belle City Square community in Racine, Wis., achieved the LEED certification for historic building reuse, environmental and health product declarations, and construction and demolition waste management.
Additionally, The William reduces water waste by leaving irrigation in the past and utilizing low flow plumbing fixtures and water metering. Its advanced energy metering, solar array and light pollution reduction are a testament to the building’s sustainability and positive impact on the atmosphere and surrounding community.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications were developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). They are the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence for design, construction and operational practices that improve environmental and human health.
“The work of innovative building projects like The William is a fundamental driving force in transforming the way our buildings are built, designed and operated,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “Buildings that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, reducing operating costs and conserving resources while prioritizing sustainable practices and human health. Because of The William, we are increasing the number of green buildings and getting closer to USGBC’s goal to outpace conventional buildings, while being environmentally and socially responsible and improving quality of life for generations to come.”
With the designation, The William (2200 Northwestern Ave.) becomes only the third LEED Gold certified building in the City of Racine, joining the Johnson Foundation Guest House and SC Johnson HQ West.
“We are excited to achieve LEED Gold certification for The William. The complete rehabilitation and reinvention of this historic building – from blighted to beautiful – while being able to accomplish our ambitious goal of meeting LEED Gold standards is quite the feat,” said Scott Schwebel, CMO of J. Jeffers & Co. “We are proud to participate in this sustainable initiative and contribute to the well-being of our residents, community, and environment.”
