Press Release

Endocrine Society Awarded Prestigious Gold LEED Certification for New Green Headquarters

December 11, 2014

Architects work with Society to avoid use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in construction

Washington, DC—Today, the Endocrine Society was awarded Gold LEED Certification for their new headquarters at 2055 L Street by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices and is recognized across the globe as the premier mark of achievement in green building.

To receive LEED certification, building projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. When the Society first made plans to move their headquarters to DC, the organization’s leadership identified LEED certification as a primary target.

Architects reviewed the Society’s own statement on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and weeded out construction materials that contained materials disruptive to reproductive and other endocrine systems. Every effort was made, when known and reported, to avoid products with harmful ingredients, and in the case of paints, adhesives, some carpet materials, and others, the research available at the time was able to steer and inform the design team’s specifications in new directions.

“Our members have shown that endocrine-disrupting chemicals pose a real threat to public health,” said Endocrine Society Chief Executive Officer Barbara Byrd Keenan. “So, when we planned the construction of the new headquarters with an eye to LEED certification, we also were very mindful to avoid materials shown to contain EDCs.”

The Society also earned points for choosing a location in an urban area with access to community amenities and public transportation, plentiful natural light, acoustical comfort using sound-absorptive materials, and prioritized use of low-VOC paints and adhesives, Greenguard certified furniture, CRI Green Label Plus carpeting, and other low-emission materials.

About Endocrine Society

Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses, and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

Media Contacts

Colleen Williams Senior Communications Manager, Public Relations Phone: (202)-971-3611 [email protected]

Jenni Glenn Gingery Director, Communications and Media Relations Phone: (202)-971-3655 [email protected]

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Who We Are

For 100 years, the Endocrine Society has been at the forefront of hormone science and public health. Read about our history and how we continue to serve the endocrine community.