In December 2009, the San Diego Natural History Museum was awarded LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EB: O&M) Certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.

The certification was awarded for efficiency in energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of sustainable strategies. The project was led by Shawn Whisman and Rusty Gehm of the Museum’s Building Operations team, with direction from George Brooks-Gonyer, COO and CFO.

Built in 1933, and expanded in 2001, the San Diego Natural History Museum is believed to be the oldest LEED-EB: O&M-certified museum in the nation (among reporting projects) and first in California to certify under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance. The Museum is the only museum in San Diego County, and the first in Balboa Park to achieve LEED-EB: O&M certification.

The Museum’s LEED certification project was a team effort managed by Christina Sarkees, CID, LEED AP of Zagrodnik + Thomas Architects (ZTA). Tom Reichert, Heather Shopplein and Jay Bradley of Engineered Mechanical Services, Inc. and E&A Engineering (EMSI) oversaw mechanical and energy performance. Keith Schneringer of WAXIE Sanitary Supply provided green cleaning consultation, and San Diego Gas & Electric SDG&E assisted with data compilation and research.

The Museum’s next step is education so that all staff members and visitors to the Museum will understand what it means to operate, maintain and thrive in a green building. Involvement by all participants not only involves responsibility, but it can be fun and interesting as well.

Press release:
SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS LEED® for EXISTING BUILDINGS: OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION* - 12/09

San Diego’s Natural History Museum recieves LEED certification
San Diego News Network - 1/16/10

Natural History Museum now LEED certified
San Diego Daily Transcript -12/22/09