Washington, D.C., April 13, 2016—The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) applauds the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) decision to adopt the Sustainable SITES Initiative ( SITES®) rating system for its capital construction program.

Incorporating SITES—which provides a focus on ecological services and sustainability beyond a building’s envelope, and also possesses the ability to be applied independently or coupled with LEED ® certification—will give the GSA a highly effective and efficient way to achieve environmental performance on various capital projects.

SITES is the most comprehensive rating system for developing sustainable landscapes. SITES is based on the understanding that land is a crucial component of the built environment and can be planned, designed, developed and maintained to protect and enhance the benefits we derive from healthy functioning landscapes.

“ASLA welcomes GSA’s strategy to champion sustainability in the landscapes that it manages. As the government’s largest civilian landlord, GSA will work with landscape architects to plan, design, develop and maintain healthy functioning landscapes for its capital construction projects,” says Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, the executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. “The GSA’s adoption of SITES will contribute to healthy communities, and the American people—and the environment—will benefit.”

* The SITES Rating System is administered by Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI), the premiere organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally. The material on which the SITES Rating System is based was developed through a collaborative, interdisciplinary effort of the American Society of Landscape Architects Fund, The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, and the United States Botanic Garden. 

About the American Society of Landscape Architects

Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 15,000 members in 49 professional chapters and 72 student chapters. Members of the Society use "ASLA" after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Landscape architects lead the stewardship, planning and design of our built and natural environments; the Society’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education and fellowship.

Contact:
Karen Grajales
American Society of Landscape Architects
(202) 216-2371
Email Contact
@landarchitects