The $27-million HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts has earned LEED for Healthcare Gold certification, according to an article on the Medical Construction & Design website.

HealthSouth is one of seven projects in the U.S. to receive a LEED HC certification. 

The HealthSouth project began tracking Silver certification, but as construction progressed, the team picked up additional points with installation of efficient building systems, generation of renewable energy onsite, sourcing a significant percentage of regional and recycled materials, installing materials with a low level of toxins and VOCs and by flushing the building’s HVAC system to improve air quality, the article said.

HealthSouth's commitment to educate visitors on green building strategies, to manage and recycle the waste generated during operations, and to develop and implement a green cleaning program achieved three additional points to surpass the Silver goal and achieve LEED HC Gold certification.

The project’s brownfield site was once a rope mill and included salvageable brick and other materials that were incorporated into the new structure.

Read the article.