Irving R. Newhouse Building received LEED Platinum certification

| By DES Communications

An aerial view of the Newhouse Building and the Legislative Building dome. Parts of the Cherberg Building and the West Capitol Campus lawn are visible.

LEED Platinum certification is the highest designation recognizes green building methods, energy conservation.

The Irving R. Newhouse Building (Newhouse), the newest building on the historic West Capitol Campus, has earned Platinum certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and only approximately 10% of applicants are awarded Platinum certification, the highest level.

Newhouse joins two other Capitol Campus buildings that are Platinum certified: Helen Sommers and 1500 Jefferson. Two campus buildings are Gold certified: the Capitol Childcare Center and the John L. O’Brien Building.

Newhouse has many features that contributed to the Platinum certification, including:

  • Newhouse is the first known building in the United States that incorporates Fsorb, a formaldehyde-free acoustic insert, which eliminates all known chemicals of concern that are used in traditional acoustic insulation, within Acoustic Dowel Laminated Timber (ADLT).
  • The building is 100% electric with roof solar panels generating approximately 20% of its power. It is also net-zero ready. Meaning the design makes it so that additional sources of renewable energy can be added later. 
  • Most of the new building materials were sourced in Washington. 
  • Where possible, materials salvaged from the original Newhouse building and nearby press houses were used.
  • The building features a green roof around the fourth floor that contributes to the building’s sustainability and emergency efficiency.

Visitors to the building can see some of these features in its public spaces. The mixing chamber that features ADLT welcomes all visitors, which can be viewed by simply looking up. The feature wall alongside the four-flight staircase at the center of the building displays the reclaimed wood from the original press houses, and the green roof is visible from the public waiting area on the fourth floor.

About the Irving R. Newhouse Building

Completed in 1934 as a temporary structure, the original Newhouse building had far exceeded its useful life, posing significant health and safety hazards. Designed by Miller Hull Partnership LLP, DES completed the Newhouse building as part of the Legislative Campus Modernization project in December 2024. Occupants include members of the Senate, their staff and Legislative Support Services.

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