LEED Silver Certification for Residential Treatment Unit at the Department of Corrections

Cook County’s Residential Treatment Unit (RTU) received LEED Silver certification (Photographer: Darris Lee Harris)

Cook County was the first governmental agency in Illinois to pass an energy initiative, with an ordinance requiring all new construction to be LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified by the US Green Building Council.  LEED is a point-based rating system developed by the US Green Building Council which allows the owner to select energy conservation elements to incorporate into a design.

The Residential Treatment Unit (RTU) and Reception, Classification, Diagnostic Center (RCDC) at the Department of Corrections achieved LEED Silver certification in late 2015. This new facility will efficiently respond to the increasing demand for mental health evaluations and treatment in a secure, contemporary, well-organized intake and state-of-the-art medical screening facility.