CFA Institute Charlottesville Facility Earns LEED Gold Status

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence, has been awarded Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Certification Institute. LEED, a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes and neighborhoods, is intended to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently. The Gold certification is awarded to CFA Institute for the successful integration of sustainability into the design and operation of its Charlottesville facility. The organization is now one of only 13 LEED Gold certified projects in Charlottesville.

“The Gold certification level has been our goal as we designed and built the facility, and we’re thrilled to have this confirmation of the building’s sustainable design,” said Guy P. Williams, Head, Finance and Risk Management at CFA Institute. “Our intention was to place great importance on the impact the design would have on our staff, our neighbors, and the greater community, and to ensure that this facility would be a great place to work, all which have been recognized with this achievement.&rdquo

CFA Institute’s Gold status was awarded for reaching 62 points, the second-highest possible level of achievement. Features that contributed to the LEED Gold status include:

• The facility operates on 22% less energy than an office of a similar size;
• The new building features a “graywater” reuse system, which reduces public water use by 70% and public sewer discharge by 30%. Waste water is pumped, filtered, and monitored by microcomputers, through a series of cells that use plants in porous gravel to cultivate natural microorganisms that biologically treat the waste; 
• More than 95% of building materials from the demolition were recycled; 
• All systems furniture was remanufactured locally in Petersburg, VA., 
• All paints, finishes, and carpets are either low or zero VOC (volatile organic compound).

CFA Institute has been a member of the Charlottesville community for five decades and is one of the largest employers in the Albemarle area. The organization prides itself on being a good corporate citizen, employing more than 400 staff at its Charlottesville facility which serves as an anchor for offices in Brussels, Hong Kong, London and New York. The organization’s mission is to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. Since 1963, it has brought thousands of CFA charterholders to Charlottesville to grade its CFA exams, an effort that continues to benefit the local economy.