Ahead of a grand opening planned later this year, the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center has grabbed the attention of the U.S. Green Building Council, earning national recognition for its environmentally-friendly design, construction and operational practices.
As a result of its green practices, the museum received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver status, a prestigious distinction afforded only one other Native American museum, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, according to the building council.
“This achievement underscores our tribe’s commitment to the environment and conservation efforts as we prepare to introduce the community to a one-of-a-kind facility that showcases our history and culture,” said Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
In addition, the Santa Ynez facility now becomes one of 15 museums in California, and one of 124 in the U.S., to be LEED certified at the silver level or better.
The LEED green building rating system is used to certify and recognize businesses around the globe that go above above and beyond to ensure construction and operation of facilities are at the highest level of sustainability, according to the building council.
Under the LEED certification process, museum project teams are required to adhere to prerequisites across nine measurements for building excellence that range from integrative processes to building materials to indoor air quality.
