Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital earned LEED Silver from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). At 2 million square feet, the hospital, which opened in September 2024, is the first healthcare facility in Georgia to earn LEED Building Design & Construction for Healthcare v4/v4.1 certification at any level and stands as the largest project in the U.S. to achieve certification under LEED v4 BD+C: Healthcare.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and an international symbol of sustainability and excellence. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a holistic framework for creating healthy, highly efficient and cost-effective green buildings 

Arthur M. Blank Hospital set a high standard for smart construction that allowed Children’s to reduce its environmental footprint and operate in a more sustainable manner, with special attention given to water conservation, smart building techniques, recycling, and waste reduction. Key environmental considerations taken during the planning and building of Arthur M. Blank Hospital that led to the LEED Silver certification include:

• Efficiency. Efficient plumbing fixtures led to a 29% reduction in indoor water use. Energy efficient building systems contributed to a 10% reduction in overall energy consumption. Structural design and concrete mix achieved at least a 10% reduction across three categories of the building’s life-cycle impact.

• Recycling. More than 80% of the waste generated during construction was diverted from the landfill and recycled.

• Low-emitting materials, from ceiling to floors, minimized the content of heavy metals in the building, creating a healthier indoor environment for the patients, families and staff.

• Use of nature. 100% of the inpatient areas offer views to the outdoors, with easily accessible and visible green space that are proven to promote mental and physical wellbeing. Additionally, the landscape is comprised of native Georgia and adapted plants, resulting in a 57% reduction in outdoor water use. Finally, 41% of the hospital’s site is dedicated as open space, with 87% of it as greenspace.

Children’s has made sustainability a key consideration in its operations and plans for growth, upholding a commitment to build better by using moder methods and technologies that contribute to a healthy environment. In 2010, Children’s Hughes Spalding Hospital was the first hospital in Georgia to LEED Gold Certification. The Center for Advanced Pediatrics, the first building to open on the North Druid Hills campus, earned LEED Gold certification in 2019, followed by the Support Center which earned LEED Silver Certification in 2021.