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Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/21/26

Key Takeaways

  • Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Goodlettsville Elementary School earned LEED Gold certification for its sustainable design, energy-efficient systems, and environmentally responsible construction.
  • The 81,750-square-foot school incorporates geothermal HVAC, LED lighting, enhanced ventilation, graywater harvesting, and other features that reduce energy use and improve indoor environmental quality.
  • Since opening in 2023, the facility has also received multiple industry awards recognizing its design excellence and innovative approach to K–12 school construction.

Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program evaluates buildings based on criteria including energy performance, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, sustainable materials and environmental responsibility. Goodlettsville Elementary achieved the Gold-level designation through a variety of features intended to reduce energy consumption and improve the learning environment.

Sustainability measures include high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, and low-emitting interior materials such as flooring, ceilings, paints, coatings and insulation to help improve indoor air quality, the news release reports. The school also incorporates geothermal heat pump air handlers, condensing natural gas water heaters, LED lighting, daylight sensors, centralized lighting controls and enhanced ventilation systems designed to improve occupant comfort while lowering operational energy use.

Site design strategies further support the school’s environmental goals through stormwater management, construction waste reduction, recycled and regionally sourced building materials, and a graywater harvesting system that captures roof drainage and condensate for irrigation and water closet flushing.

“We have greatly enjoyed partnering with MNPS to advance its sustainability initiatives,” said Roy Garcia, GMC Senior Vice President of Architecture. “Throughout the design process, our goal was to create a facility that not only met these objectives but also reflected the long-term vision of environmentally responsible design. We sincerely appreciate the commitment and collaboration of MNPS, the general contractor and the user groups. Their shared dedication was instrumental in bringing this vision to life and creating a more sustainable learning environment for generations of students.”

Since opening, the school has also received several industry recognitions, including ENR Southeast’s 2024 Best Projects Award of Merit for K–12 Education, the 2023 Tennessee School Boards Association School of the Year Award for New Elementary School Construction, and the AGC 2024 Build Tennessee Award for Institutional Projects. GMC served as lead designer on the project alongside general contractor RC Anderson Co., civil engineer Barge Civil Associates, structural engineer Structural Design Group, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer I.C. Thomasson.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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