Somerset County Technical High School in Westover, Md., has received LEED Gold certification for its sustainable design and construction.

The Somerset County district says the 103,000-square-foot building is extremely energy efficient, with a "cool roof" composed of material with a high Solar Reflectance Index. It also has vegetated roof areas to provide additional insulation.

Landscaping throughout the site was chosen to eliminate the need for on-site irrigation.

The building was constructed using 20% recycled content or materials extracted and manufactured within a 500-mile radius. More than 400 tons of construction waste were diverted from the landfill and recycled, accounting for nearly 75% of the total waste generated during construction.

Additionally, building materials were selected for their high durability and low-maintenance qualities.

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved LEED Gold certification for our new technical high school," says Somerset County Superintendent John B. Gaddis. "This building is one of fewer than 50 schools in Maryland to be LEED Gold certified and the only one in Somerset County.”

The $42 million facility opened in August 2019. It has a capacity of 400 students.