LEED v5 introduces a more outcomes driven approach to sustainability—one that aligns closely with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and its call for climate-responsive, equitable, and human-centered design. This session will translate the major shifts in LEED v5 into practical guidance for architects and designers, focusing on how the new structure supports integrated, values-driven decision-making.

Attendees will explore LEED v5’s three impact areas—decarbonization, ecological conservation and restoration, and quality of life—and learn how the new impact scorecard can be used to strengthen project visioning, design strategy alignment, and client communication. 

Panelists will also connect these updates to corresponding principles in the AIA Framework, offering a clear map between certification requirements and broader design excellence goals. The discussion will cover how the frameworks reinforce one another, enabling teams to elevate design quality, streamline interdisciplinary collaboration, and demonstrate leadership on climate, equity, and health. 

Panelists:
Sara Greenwood – Greenwood Consulting Group
Dana Sorensen – BNIM
Jeremy Nelson, AIA – SLATTERY Design + Architecture
Julie Peterson – USGBC Central Plains

This course is approved for 1 General GBCI CE unit and 1 AIA HSW credit

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