Arroyo Del Oso Elementary School Achieves LEED v4 Silver Certification

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) was recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in a special plaque ceremony celebrating the LEED v4 Silver certification of Arroyo Del Oso Elementary School on July 16, 2025. This achievement reinforces the City of Albuquerque’s broader commitment to sustainability and complements its LEED for Cities Silver certification.

Arroyo Del Oso Elementary is now one of only ten LEED v4 Silver-certified school projects in New Mexico—seven of which are APS schools—highlighting the district’s leadership in advancing healthier, high-performance learning environments for students and educators.

The event was organized by the AIA New Mexico Committee on the Environment (COTE) as part of its ongoing effort to spotlight sustainable design leadership across the state. The plaque was presented by Josie Kohlan, Sustainability Director at Goodman’s, a member of the USGBC Mountain Region Market Leadership Advisory Board and New Mexico COTE.

Accepting the award on behalf of the project team were Tony Sparks, APS Project Manager – HVAC; Faye Rogers, APS Staff Architect; and Huang Banh, Principal at Verdacity, who led the sustainability and certification process.

Following the ceremony, Dean Cowdry of Roma Architecture—the project’s design architect—and Huang Banh shared a presentation detailing the building’s sustainability strategies and performance results. Notable achievements include:

• Maximum daylighting credits earned through strategic design,

• An estimated 233,000 gallons of water savings annually, and

• 86.9% energy cost savings compared to the ASHRAE 2010 baseline.

  
  

Josie Kohlan also delivered an insightful presentation on the importance of furniture design in supporting student performance and well-being, reinforcing the value of holistic, occupant-centered design in school environments.

Verdacity is proud to have contributed sustainability consulting to this impactful project. The LEED certification of Arroyo Del Oso Elementary reflects the power of collaboration, innovation, and thoughtful design, setting a powerful example for the future of public school infrastructure in New Mexico and beyond.