In 2020, the Linn County Board of Supervisors created a Sustainability Department to equitably address issues of climate adaptation and engage the public in climate action. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.
LEED projects earn points by adhering to prerequisites and credits across nine categories. The public health building earned LEED Silver certification under the LEED Building Design + Construction (BD+C): New Construction (NC) v2009. The majority of the points were earned in the Sustainable Sites category.
The 63,000-square-foot public health and childcare center was the county’s final flood-related project to be completed. Named after the late Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris, the building was designed with their civil rights and social equity efforts in mind. While the prior public health building was not flooded, the site of the new building was. After being cleared following the flood, the site sat empty for years. By redeveloping the site, the county utilized a previously developed site in the city’s urban core.
The building is geared toward aiding children from low-income families. Many aspects of the facility were designed with the intent of supporting the community and providing a safe, supportive space for children of all backgrounds to receive care. The building’s childhood development wing was designed to integrate into the surrounding residential neighborhood while the larger public health wing creates a civic presence. The building also features south facing, floor to ceiling windows; a large green space and nature-inspired playground; and an after-school program.
