Vornado Realty with USGBC achieve LEED certification across in-service portfolio

Manhattan, NY Vornado Realty Trust, along with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has become the first major real estate owner, operator and developer to achieve 100% LEED certification across its entire portfolio of in-service buildings. 

Developed by USGBC, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the most widely used green building rating systems in the world. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable, offering a better quality of life, while also lowering global carbon emissions.

Over the past two years, Vornado has submitted its entire 26.1 million s/f in-service portfolio for USGBC review and recertification. On the basis of those reviews, Vornado became the first owner and operator in the nation to achieve 100% LEED certification, with 24.8 million s/f across 25 buildings achieving the highest LEED Platinum or Gold ratings.

Vornado, whose portfolio is concentrated primarily in New York City with additional premier assets in San Francisco and Chicago, has long been a pioneer in sustainability, driving higher standards in the real estate industry and beyond. The company’s decades-long commitment to responsible development has earned Vornado an unmatched reputation across all aspects of sustainability — from design, construction and retrofits to maintenance, operations and tenant improvements. Vornado has also built a track record collaborating with major tenants across its portfolio to reduce consumption through the implementation of submetering, real time monitoring of energy use, and a host of other energy curtailment measures.

“At Vornado, we are focused on the next frontier of sustainable real estate, including programs that concentrate on technology, resilience and health,” said Michael Franco, President and Chief Financial Officer, Vornado. “We are dedicated to consistently being at the forefront of sustainability by making smart infrastructure improvements, investing in sustainable technologies, employing best practices for building operations and establishing partnerships with our tenants. This creates lasting value for our investors, tenants, employees and communities. We are appreciative of the U.S. Green Building Council for developing clear benchmarks and providing owners and operators with the tools and support owners need to achieve them.” 

“USGBC applauds Vornado for this impressive achievement, the first of its kind in the United States at this large scale,” said Peter Templeton, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Green Building Council. “Vornado is maximizing performance and sustainability across its entire portfolio, demonstrating the benefits and value of green building and setting an example for the entire real estate industry. USGBC is proud to partner with Vornado and looks forward to building on this success.”

“Vornado has been a leader in the NYC Carbon challenge since Day 1, and they see first-hand how efficiency and energy upgrades make for more attractive offices, modernized buildings, and healthier environments,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “The city is launching new resources to help buildings enter this cleaner future and comply with Local Law 97, like the GreenHOUSE Fund to support affordable housing, the J-51 tax incentive to support low and moderate income co-ops and condos, and a new expanded NYC Accelerator, which is set to launch later this year to help all building owners connect to resources and get Local Law 97 done.” 

This milestone further reinforces Vornado’s status as a leader in sustainability. Most recently, Vornado was recognized with Nareit’s inaugural 2024 Sustainability Impact Award for its redevelopment of THE PENN DISTRICT, its 10 million-square foot campus on Manhattan’s West Side. Also in 2024, THE PENN DISTRICT received the first-ever U.S. certification and Platinum rating globally from ModeScore, a sustainability assessment tool, in recognition of Vornado’s success transforming the area into a greener, more accessible, and more connected commercial hub.