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Callison and USGBC Create LEED for Retail Model

Under the new model, firms such as Wachovia can rollout 300 LEED-certified branches, after the initial prototype meets LEED criteria.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 7/2/2008 12:00:00 AM

Retail design giant Callison and the U.S Green Building Council have collaborated on two new sustainable sustainable models for retailers, LEED for Retail and LEED Portfolio.

The models grew out of the firm's work on a prototype for Wachovia regional finance centers, during which it led architectural development for both pilot programs simultaneously. The Wachovia prototype then received the first LEED Silver Commercial interiors and Portfolio certification under the new system it helped create.

The LEED Portfolio program allows retailers and other volume builders to certify all subsequent projects once an initial prototype has met the criteria established by the USGBC. For Wachovia, the new certification will allow the bank to open more than 300 branches in accordance with the program's standards by 2010.

"Up until now retailers have been slow to adopt sustainable practices. For the first time, national retailers can build to LEED standards across their portfolio of stores without having to go through the certification process for each individual site," say Callison principal Chris Hamilton. This results in an efficient, streamlined process for building sustainable on a large-scale, thus saving time, money and manpower for retailers that want to go green."