New York Olympic Region Earns LEED Gold Recertification for Sustainability Leadership

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The New York Olympic Region (NYOR) partnership has achieved LEED Gold recertification, reaffirming the region's commitment to sustainability and resilience.

NYOR is part of a growing group certified through the LEED for Cities and Communities rating system. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the world's most widely used green building rating system.

Building on the LEED rating system for buildings, LEED for Cities and Communities helps local leaders measure and manage progress toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Through the program, communities develop and implement plans addressing natural systems, energy, water, waste, housing, transportation and other factors that contribute to quality of life.

"LEED for Cities and Communities provides a valuable framework to help us plan for a more sustainable and resilient future while protecting the quality of life and character that make North Elba such a special place to live, work, and visit," said Rick Preston, Supervisor of the Town of North Elba.

"LEED for Cities and Communities is a great way to keep ever present in our minds that we need to be more energy efficient and better to the environment and community we live in," offered Mayor Art Devlin of the Village of Lake Placid. "LEED over the years has kept our sight on becoming better year after year. Receiving a gold standard is a great benchmark and all involved should be very proud of themselves."

The New York Olympic Region first achieved LEED certification in 2019. Its 2026 recertification recognizes continued implementation of practical, measurable strategies aimed at improving sustainability and quality of life for residents. LEED evaluates communities across key areas of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

The New York Olympic Region's effort is distinguished by a partnership spanning local and state entities, as well as public and private organizations. The Village of Lake Placid, Town of North Elba, Lake Placid Central School District, Olympic Regional Development Authority and Clarkson University pooled resources to pursue recertification.

A core team of local officials, Olympic Authority staff and Clarkson faculty and students began the recertification process in 2023, building on the region's initial certification. The team documented the community's progress toward prerequisites and credits under the updated LEED framework before submitting its application in fall 2025.

"My start as a student on the recertification efforts in 2023 focused my career goals and developed me professionally with real-world experiences," explained recently graduated Clarkson alumna and Clarkson's Institute for a Sustainable Environment Adirondack Semester 2023 participant Rochelle Daniels. "By its final submission, I was able to see the reciprocal benefits this project had on both the students and the community, and now feel like I have played a part in building a more climate resilient future."

The project marks the first time a LEED for Communities recertification effort was conducted by college students, following the first student-executed initial LEED for Communities certification effort in 2019.

The work also complemented development of the new North Elba/Lake Placid Comprehensive Plan. The LEED for Communities framework helped guide initiatives and planning for the High Peaks region of New York's Adirondack Park. Through the partnership with Clarkson, additional projects and conceptual designs have been completed or are underway, extending the work beyond the certification process.

"While I am privileged to serve on USGBC's Cities & Communities Consensus Committee as we look to continue to raise the bar for community scale sustainability, it is this effort with the New York Olympic Community, working alongside our students that is especially rewarding. I couldn't be prouder of the Clarkson student team's work, especially Ms. Maria Suffredini (ES&S '25) and Ms. Rochelle Daniels (EnvE '26), who, alongside our community partners, made this recertification happen," said Erik Backus, Professor of Practice & Howard E. Lechler Director of the Construction Engineering Management program at Clarkson who oversaw the student team that executed the recertification effort. "Everyone involved should be so proud of what they have achieved."

"The New York Olympic Region's Gold Level LEED for Communities recertification signifies this area's strong cooperation between stakeholders in an ongoing commitment to sustainability," said Ashley Walden, President & CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority. "The Olympic Authority is proud to be a partner in this important achievement." Across its venues, the Olympic Authority is advancing these efforts through improved energy efficiency, modernized snowmaking and refrigeration systems, expanded electric vehicle infrastructure, renewable energy and responsible stewardship of the natural environment.

"The work of cities and communities such as the New York Olympic Region is a driving force in ensuring a more sustainable future for all," said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. "Local governments that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment and striving to improve the quality of life for their residents. The New York Olympic Region is setting a standard for what it means to be a high performer and their efforts and achievements should be an example for all."

LEED enables the New York Olympic Region to measure and track outcomes across metrics including energy, water, waste, transportation, education, health, safety, prosperity and equitability. NYOR continues its leadership within a global network of more than 170 certified cities and communities.

About the New York Olympic Region

The New York Olympic Region (NYOR) represents an ongoing partnership with the municipalities, authorities, and educational intuitions that continue to safekeep the legacy of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics as well as securing the future for the treasure that is the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Composed of the Village of Lake Placid, the Town of North Elba, the Lake Placid Central School District, and the Olympic Regional Development Authority, these partners continue to strive for improved sustainability, resilience, and vitality for the entire region.

About ORDA

Established in 1982, the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Olympic Authority) was created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid. The Olympic Authority operates Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore Mountains, Mt Van Hoevenberg, the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval, the Olympic Jumping Complex, and the Olympic Center. As host to international, national, regional and local events, the Olympic Authority's venues are destinations and economic catalysts of the regions it serves.

About the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built and operated to create thriving, healthy, equitable and resilient places that advance human and environmental wellbeing. USGBC leads market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.