Setting the Standard: Inova Women’s Hospital & Children’s Hospital Achieves LEED Silver Certification

We are thrilled to celebrate a milestone in sustainable healthcare design: the Inova Women’s Hospital and Inova Children’s Hospital have earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This recognition underscores how thoughtful design enhances patient care, staff well-being, and environmental stewardship.

A Hospital Designed with Health in Mind

This 665,000-square-foot expansion was conceived not just as a building, but as a testament to a deep-rooted belief: design should promote health—for people and the planet. Inova, together with sustainability consultant Paladino and Company and architect Wilmot Sanz, joined forces to deliver a healing environment that prioritizes air quality, natural light, and materials that support occupant wellness.

Features at a glance include:

• Optimal Indoor Air Quality – Integration of low or no-VOC materials such as paints and adhesives to ensure cleaner air for patients, staff, and visitors; “so we can all breathe easy and feel healthier,” said Seema Wadhwa, Assistant VP of Sustainability and Wellness at Inova.
• Natural Light and Daylighting Design – Thoughtful placement of windows and glazing enhances daylight access throughout the facility, supporting circadian health and reducing reliance on artificial lighting
• Energy-Efficient Systems – Central hot water and steam plant, high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lighting, and reflective (“white”) roofing that minimize energy consumption.
• Natural Ventilation – Automated operable windows help regulate internal comfort while reducing HVAC loads and introducing fresh air.
• Water Conservation & Sustainable Landscaping – Low-flow plumbing fixtures, rain gardens, water cisterns, and native landscaping used to reduce water usage and promote ecological resilience.

Beyond Certification: A Broader Sustainability Commitment

This LEED Silver certification reflects just one piece of Inova’s comprehensive sustainability strategy. The health system has made strides in waste diversion—over 5.1 million pounds diverted from landfills during 2014–2015—and achieved nearly 12% reduction in systemwide energy use since 2012.

LEED certification also supports Inova’s larger vision of integrating eco-conscious practices across its operations and future facilities.

Our Role in this Achievement

At Wilmot Sanz, we're proud to have partnered with Inova and Paladino and Company on this pioneering project. Together, we demonstrated how evidence-based design and sustainability principles can coalesce into a facility that’s both high-performance and human-centered.

Congratulations to Inova, the project team, and everyone who contributed to turning this vision into reality. We look forward to continuing to shape healthcare environments that promote health, resilience, and environmental stewardship.