Press Room

Museum Named Overall Winner of Cleveland 2030 District's Green Building Challenge

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CLEVELAND, OH—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is proud to announce it has been named the overall winner of the Cleveland 2030 District’s Green Building Challenge 2025. This prestigious honor celebrates the Museum’s continued leadership in environmental sustainability and its dedication to aligning its architecture with its mission. 

The Green Building Challenge recognizes outstanding new construction and renovation projects throughout Northeast Ohio that demonstrate innovation and a commitment to high-performance building design. The Cleveland 2030 District is part of a national network of 23 districts working toward the shared goal of reducing energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions by 50% by the year 2030. 

“Being recognized as the overall winner of the Green Building Challenge expands on our LEED Platinum certification and underscores the Museum’s dedication to conservation,” says Sonia Winner, Museum President & CEO. “This honor also celebrates the work of our partners at DLR Group, who helped us bring our vision to life through environmentally responsible, mission-driven design.” 

A Continued Commitment to Sustainability

This latest accolade follows the Museum’s achievement last year as the first museum in the United States to earn LEED v4 BD+C NC Platinum certification—the highest possible recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable building design. The Museum’s $150 million transformation, featuring architecture by DLR Group, expanded its facility to more than 375,000 square feet and reimagined the visitor experience—both inside and out. 

Key sustainable elements that contributed to the Museum’s Green Building Challenge win include: 

  • Visible stormwater-management systems that educate the public while reducing runoff.
  • Restoration of over 50% of the site with native vegetation to support pollinators and birds.
  • A 32% reduction in energy use through passive and active strategies, including high-efficiency HVAC and rooftop solar arrays.
  • A 10% reduction in embodied carbon for new construction areas.
  • Indoor environmental-quality enhancements, including daylight access for 95% of occupied spaces. 

For more information about the Museum’s transformation and sustainability efforts, visit CMNH.org. 

Media Contact

Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager, Marketing & Communications
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Office: 216.231.4600 x3432
Mobile: 440.429.2902
sguenther@cmnh.org   

About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History     

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.