Spring 2026 Newsletter
- Sara Greenwood
- 22 hours ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 52 minutes ago
Dear Clients and Partners,
We are excited to share the latest at GCG — from newly completed projects and current initiatives to upcoming events and important milestones. This spring, we are proud to celebrate two landmark achievements: Greenwood Consulting Group has now certified over 100 million square feet across our growing portfolio, and is now a Certified Just Organization. Our team continues to deliver exceptional sustainability consulting services nationwide, helping clients achieve their environmental goals across diverse project types, from healthcare and residential to industrial, commercial, and corporate sustainability strategy. Read on for highlights from our busiest season yet.
-Sara Greenwood, Principal + Founder
Recently Completed
Projects
SAZ Gorilla Exhibit | San Antonio, TX
Project Manager: Rebecca Rice
Certification: LEED Certified
GCG continued its partnership with the San Antonio Zoo, providing LEED Certification Management for the new Gorilla Exhibit — the next phase of a growing relationship that began with the Zoo’s LEED-certified Entry project. As part of the Zoo’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, the exhibit incorporates sustainable design strategies including native landscaping, water-efficient systems, and low-VOC materials throughout.
5 LEED SILVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS | Shawnee Mission School District, KS
Project Manager: Rachael Johnson
Certification: Leed Silver
Shawnee Mission School District celebrated a major sustainability milestone, with five elementary schools earning LEED Silver Certification: Rushton, Pawnee, Tomahawk, Westwood View, and John Diemer. Each school was designed with environmental responsibility and student health in mind, incorporating strategies such as preserving 40% of on-site green space, maximizing natural daylight, and installing water-efficient fixtures. As Sara Greenwood noted, “LEED is an intentional process for designing sustainable schools — students and the community know they are part of a school designed with sustainability and health in mind.”
NELSON ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART | Kansas City, MO
Project Manager: Elena Kiernan
Certification: WELL Silver
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art pursued WELL Certification (v2) for its entire museum campus, targeting WELL Silver to underscore its commitment to the health and well-being of employees, visitors, and the surrounding community. As an existing building, the project team navigated unique challenges, successfully completing documentation and performance verification before entering third-party review. The museum’s certification strategy prioritized the Movement, Mind, and Community concepts, reflecting its mission to advance wellness, mental health, and social impact. The Community concept led the scorecard with 68% of optimizations targeted, including universal design, emergency preparedness, and community engagement initiatives. GCG provided Certification Management services throughout the process.
A Focus on Waste Diversion
Project Manager: Simone Fraid
As the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City prepares for major renovations, GCG was also engaged to reviewing opportunities to optimize waste infrastructure and service levels. GCG conducted a 24-hour waste audit following a major event and reviewed volume data. Following these audits, GCG presented recommendations on operational and procurement changes to support increased waste diversion, and advised on potential streamlined hauling services. This was a great example of GCG’s ability to incorporate multiple arms of sustainability services, ensuring our clients have a holistic view of their portfolio, from design and construction to existing operations and beyond – read more about our service offerings here: Services | The Greenwood Consulting Group, LLC.
KIEWIT K3 - PENROSE BUILDING | Lenexa, KS - LEED Silver
Project Manager: Corinne Wichser
Certification: LEED Silver
GCG provided Certification Management and LCA services for Kiewit’s new 177,802 SF Penrose Building in Lenexa, KS, achieving LEED Silver. The project, completed at a construction cost of $120M, demonstrates impressive sustainability performance: a 40% whole-project water use reduction, a 9.5% energy cost reduction through enhanced commissioning, and a 1,000 kW rooftop solar system on the adjacent K4 building contributing a 4.4% annual site energy offset. An additional 18% of site energy is offset through a green power purchase, and construction waste was managed through a Recycling Certification Institute-certified hauler.
GREEN GLOBES PROJECTS
GCG continues to grow its portfolio of Green Globes certified projects. This season we are proud to celebrate The Fieldston (formerly Fairway Active Adult) achieving 2 Green Globes — joining a strong lineup of multifamily, industrial and commercial projects demonstrating GCG’s expertise across rating systems
The Fieldston (formerly Fairway Active Adult) | Fairway, KS — 2 Green Globes
Project Manager: Sara Greenwood
Certification: 2 Green Globes
This new 385,000 SF luxury multifamily development in Fairway, KS — offering 210 units tailored to a senior demographic — earned 2 Green Globes, with a standout indoor environmental quality score of 79%. Ventilation, lighting, and acoustics were all designed for optimal performance, while energy efficiency strategies included LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC, ENERGY STAR appliances, and onsite renewable energy. Sustainable site features such as light-colored hardscape with shading and water-efficient landscaping round out a project that prioritizes both resident health and long-term environmental performance.
Photo reference: View | 55 & Over Rental Community | The Fieldston of Fairway
The Conlan Company, EcoVadis & Sustainability Strategy
Project Manager: Simone Fraid + Logan Cohen
Certifications: EcoVadis Gold
Conlan engaged GCG to help develop a strategy for sustainability reporting and to comply with EcoVadis reporting requirements. GCG helped the company develop a three-year program roadmap, calculate GHG emissions, and submit an EcoVadis assessment. Through this process, Conlan received an EcoVadis Committed badge and is in the process of developing its first impact report with GCG’s support.
Projects In
Progress
Confidential Data Center Projects
Our team is actively working on multiple data center projects, helping clients navigate the complex sustainability requirements of these energy-intensive facilities. One of these projects is shaping up to receive LEED Platinum certification, a huge testament to the expertise of our team, and the collaborative effort of the entire project team.
LEED Volume projects for Large Industrial Developments
Project Manager: Jenn Mahon
GCG has partnered with a large-scale industrial developer to implement a LEED Volume program across their portfolio. By standardizing sustainable building practices through a single, streamlined certification process, they are significantly reducing the time and cost associated with certifying individual projects while maintaining consistent, high-performance outcomes. This approach not only accelerates their path to a greener portfolio but also strengthens their commitment to environmental responsibility at scale.
Other ongoing projects
SSM Health Well at-scale program | Burbank Airport | UC Irvine | University of Illinois | Barney Allis Plaza | Luminary Park | MSP Terminal 2 | University of Missouri Engineering & Applied Sciences | Ongoing Reporting (CDP, EcoVadis, Corporate Sustainability Strategy) | Confidential animal health facilities, and other specialized projects across the country | And many more!
Important
Updates
LEEDv5 is Coming
The next generation of LEED is on the horizon. LEED v5 represents a major evolution of the world’s most widely used green building rating system, with a sharper focus on decarbonization, human health, and equity. GCG is closely tracking the rollout and is ready to help clients understand what these changes mean for current and upcoming projects. Stay tuned for more details, and reach out if you would be interested in a CEU-approved presentation for your team, or would like to discuss how LEED v5 may impact your portfolio.
Just Certification
We are proud to announce that Greenwood Consulting Group has officially earned the Just Label from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) — a voluntary organizational disclosure tool that evaluates companies across diversity, equity, inclusion, worker safety, employee benefits, and community stewardship. Think of it as a “nutrition label” for our company’s values. For clients pursuing Living Future Certification, this designation carries direct project relevance: as a certified Just Organization, GCG meets the Inclusion Core Imperative under the Equity Petal.
GCG Team Retreat
Last month, the GCG team gathered in Austin, TX for our firm retreat. With our work spanning the country, we place great value in creating intentional time to come together — strengthening relationships, sharing knowledge, and setting our strategic direction as a firm. We explored sustainability highlights across the city and spent meaningful time mapping out the year ahead, with an eye toward our clients' evolving needs, our growing service lines, and the ever-changing landscape of this industry. We are grateful for such a passionate, integrated team, and energized to keep advocating, educating, and delivering technical expertise that helps project teams design and build better, more sustainable buildings and communities for generations to come.
Events
GREEN SPORTS ALLIANCE SUMMIT | Cincinnati
Simone Fraid, our Sustainability Strategy and Reporting Team Lead, attended the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Cincinnati earlier this month. She enjoyed making connections and exploring how sustainability reporting and waste management initiatives are pushing boundaries in the sports and venue space. We are proud to be a GSA Member and would love to share how GCG can help your club or venue can start planning for more efficient operations and reporting infrastructure now.
ADAPT CONFERENCE | Denver, CO
Sara Greenwood and Rebecca Rice attended the ADAPT Conference in Denver, CO. Sara led a workshop covering Practical Circularity & Carbon Reduction for Real-World Impact, and Rebecca received the Project Excellence Award in the Central Plains market for her exceptional work on the CPKC Stadium project in Kansas City.
GREENBUILD | New York
Our team will be attending Greenbuild, the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.
We look forward to connecting with industry leaders, learning about the latest innovations in sustainable design, and sharing insights from our project experiences.
Will we see you there? Let us know if you'd like to connect!
Looking
Ahead
As we move through the Spring season, we remain committed to helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. Our comprehensive services continue to support projects nationwide:
✓ High Performance and Healthy Buildings
✓ Sustainability Strategy & Reporting
✓ Sustainable Business Initiatives
Get In
Touch
Thank you for your continued partnership and trust in Greenwood Consulting Group.
For more information about our services or to discuss your next project.
Greenwood Consulting Group, LLC Your Partner in Sustainable Development
