Toronto's Green LEED-er.

The Toronto office and studio of HOK, a Canadian architectural design firm, has received Gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) program from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

HOK's renovated headquarters is one of two projects in Canada to receive a Gold rating in the LEED-CI program, according to a press release from HOK.

LEED-CI provides a standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain and demonstrate environmental stewardship.

The USGBC evaluated the office and studio in five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality, in addition to Innovation and Design Process.

The 20,500-square-foot HOK office and studio space was completed in December 2004.

Among the qualities that helped it earn its green interior certification are effective use of natural daylight, low VOC paint and other coatings, high levels of local and recyclable materials, installation of operable windows and the provision that 75 percent of its electricity is provided by renewable power sources.

More information on the building is available at www.hok.com.