LEED Certification

UH Rainbow Center Earns Top Designation as Green Facility

University Hospitals is the first healthcare system in the state of Ohio to achieve a U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Level certification for the new University Hospitals Rainbow Center for Women & Children. This designation recognizes buildings for environmentally friendly design, construction and operation.

Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to environmental health hazards, so the UH Rainbow Center’s sustainable design, construction practices, and  environmental stewardship is an especially important reflection of our commitment to the patients we serve, and to ensuring a healthy environment for our patients, staff and community.  We are investing in a vibrant and sustainable urban Midtown neighborhood, conserving natural resources, preventing air and water pollution, avoiding chemical exposures and ensuring healthy indoor air quality, and supporting local businesses.

The most important green features of UH Rainbow Center for Women & Children include:

• Sustainable urban site, convenient to public transit and accessible to pedestrians and cyclists
• Excellent indoor air quality through use of non-toxic interior materials
• Energy efficient design
• Onsite solar panels, projected to generate 50 percent of the building's energy use
• Storm water management strategies, such as permeable pavement and green roofing elements

LEED is a third-party green building certification program and the globally recognized standard for high-performance green buildings and neighborhoods. LEED certification means healthier, more productive places, reduced stress on the environment, and savings from increased building value and decreased utility costs.