The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the leading authority on green building and the global developer of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program, announced the first projects to achieve certification under the LEED v5 program. The first LEED v5 projects represent a diverse set of building types across sectors and around the world, highlighting the global adaptability, broad adoption, and ease of use of the LEED rating system. 

In 2023, USGBC opened an early version of the LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) rating system for a select group of project teams worldwide. Sixty projects from around the world were accepted into the program, with nearly one-third of all projects successfully completing certification to date. These building projects helped inform and shape the newest version of LEED and represent a unique range of building types—from office buildings to warehouse and distribution centers to retail shops. This inaugural class of projects, which are the first to earn certification, represents over 12 million square feet of space across nine countries.

"The first LEED v5 projects are trailblazers, not only demonstrating green building leadership but also playing a critical role in shaping today’s definition of a high-performing, resilient, healthy, and sustainable building,” said Sarah Zaleski, chief products officer, USGBC. “By serving as early users of the rating system, these building projects have helped refine and strengthen LEED v5 and exemplify how it can be adapted to every building type, sector, and market around the world."

Portobello Shop Jardim Social in Curitiba, Brazil, became the first project to achieve certification under LEED v5, earning Platinum certification in October 2024. The project prioritized energy optimization, responsible water management, and occupant and customer health and well-being and serves as a model for integrating sustainability in the retail sector. 

"What our clients really care about are the benefits delivered when the building enters operation,” said Guido Petinelli, founder and CEO, Petinelli Inc., the consulting firm responsible for Portobello Shop. “Measuring performance is critical to show that we are delivering on our promises of reduced operating costs and increased comfort and well-being of occupants. When that happens, pursuing LEED O+M is a foregone conclusion for these clients.”

More than half of all the LEED v5 certified projects have achieved Platinum level certification. The first LEED v5 certified projects are in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Among them are: 

Project Name: Portobello Shop Jardim Social

• Location: Curitiba, Brazil
• Certification: LEED Platinum 
• Distinction: First LEED v5 certified project in the world

Project Name: Torre Diana

• Location: Mexico City, Mexico
• Certification: LEED Platinum
• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in North America  

Project Name: Ascent MKE

• Location: Milwaukee (Wis.), USA
• Certification: LEED Silver
• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in the U.S.

Project Name: Tlalnepark IV Nave 2

• Location: Tlalnepantla, Mexico
• Certification: LEED Gold
• Distinction: First LEED v5 warehouse and distribution center  

Project Name: Citigroup Center

• Location: Miami (Fla.), USA 
• Certification: LEED Silver 
• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Florida 

Project Name: BranchPattern Omaha

• Location: Omaha (Neb.), USA  
• Certification: LEED Platinum 
• Distinction: First LEED v5 Platinum project in the U.S. 

Project Name: One Bush Street

• Location: San Francisco (Calif.), USA   
• Certification: LEED Gold
• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in California 

Project Name: International Commerce Centre

• Location: Hong Kong    
• Certification: LEED Platinum 

• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Asia and largest LEED v5 certified project in the world 

Project Name: Hung Kuo Building

• Location: Taipei     
• Certification: LEED Platinum 

• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Taiwan  

Project Name: Gianni Giorgi-Alberti

• Location: Frascati, Italy

• Certification: LEED Platinum 

• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Europe  

Project Name: Sarona Tower

• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel 

• Certification: LEED Platinum 

• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in the Middle East  

Project Name: Xfinity Mobile Arena 

• Location: Philadelphia (Penn.), USA   

• Certification: LEED Gold

• Distinction: First LEED v5 sports and entertainment venue 

Project Name: TAIPEI 101

• Location: Taipei

• Certification: LEED Platinum 

• Distinction: Four-time LEED Platinum certified project and the tallest building to achieve LEED v5 certification

Project Name: Kvarngärdet 1:19 Tornet

• Location: Uppsala, Sweden, 

• Certification: LEED Platinum 

• Distinction: First LEED v5 project in Sweden

According to the UN Environment Programme, the built environment accounts for approximately 40% of all global carbon emissions, with building operations responsible for 27% of those emissions. Because nearly two-thirds of buildings that will be in use in 2040 already exist today, it is critical to ensure that both new construction and existing buildings begin a path toward decarbonization.  

LEED buildings have been proven to use less energy, reduce utility costs and set a building on a pathway toward decarbonization in studies from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Earlier this year, USGBC launched LEED v5 for registration–the newest version of its flagship green building program. The new rating system focuses on three main pillars–decarbonization, quality of life and ecological conservation and restoration–with decarbonization accounting for half of total points available toward certification. 

Certification will be available for all LEED v5 for Operations and Maintenance (O+M) projects in the fall. Certification for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) will become available later this year.