Felder & Associates is pleased to announce that the newest 17,500 s.f. Goodwill building, located at The Crossings at Godley Station in Pooler, Ga., has received LEED certification for its energy-efficiency. Designed and constructed by Felder & Associates, a leader in green architecture and design, this is the first building in the organization’s history to achieve the LEED certification. It is considered a flagship structure for the not-for-profit organization dedicated to the mission of assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment to live independently and become employed.

“We were honored to work on such a rewarding project,” said Brian Felder, the firm’s managing principal. “The building has a full-scale retail center, community training center and donation drop-off center.“

The design also includes many energy efficient systems and materials including recycled steel, polished concrete flooring, low SRI (solar heat reflective) roofing, water efficient plumbing fixtures, maximum daylighting and low-emitting materials.

Michael Winckler, the CEO of Goodwill of the Coastal Empire said, “Goodwill is a national leader in the recycling movement and we take pride in being a green innovator. Projects like this demonstrate our commitment to being a responsible social enterprise and create a positive impact on our community.”

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification.