Lakefront Building At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Earns Top Energy/Environmental Certification

This facility at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Indiana has received a Gold LEED certification for its design.

A visitor facility at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has been according a LEED Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council for its design.

The facility is owned by the National Park Service but operated by the City of Portage through an agreement.

“We are honored to receive this rating,” said lakeshore Superintendent Costa Dillon, who added that the park installed two “green roofs” on other park buildings this year.

“These three projects reflect the National Park Service commitment to sustainable design," he said in a release.

“The Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk project is an outstanding example of reclaiming a former brownfield site and transforming the land use to demonstrate sound environmental practices,” said Portage Mayor Velazquez. “Receiving Gold LEED status is an outstanding achievement and the time and commitment given from those who worked tirelessly to bring this project to reality is something to celebrate.”

The certification, developed by the United States Building Council, called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED, is an internationally recognized green building certification system. The Park Service and the city of Portage worked in partnership with the architects to create a structure that met LEED standards. The project was funded by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

Open less than two years, the site has already proven popular with the public and more than 110,000 visitors so far this year.