L.L.Bean's New Hunting & Fishing Store Receives LEED Silver Certification

L.L.Bean's new Hunting & Fishing Store recently received LEED Silver certification, becoming the first certified retail project in Maine. Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the LEED® Green Building Rating System is a national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. In 2006, L.L.Bean committed to build all new structures according to the USGBC's LEED standards. The Hunting & Fishing Store is L.L.Bean's sixth LEED registered retail store and its first to receive certification. To ensure the Hunting & Fishing Store met the USGBC's requirements, the architects held periodic meetings with the entire project team to ensure the sustainable goals for the project were met. Sustainability and sensitivity to the environment were key factors in the store design, such as utilizing salvaged materials, minimizing construction waste, and energy efficiency. Salvaged materials (structural timbers, bead board and floor board) were used in many key features of the new store, such as the oversized front porch and floor fixtures. Materials include structural steel fabricated from recycled material and interior walkways finished with recycled rubber or carpet. Sustainable features include 100-percent stormwater management, energy-efficient windows that provide daylighting and natural airflow, and low-flow sinks and toilets.