BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Three Lehigh Valley development and renovation projects have been nominated for sustainability awards.
ATAS International, an Allentown-based manufacturer; Lehigh Valley International Airport; and Lehigh University were nominated for Green Building United’s 2025 Groundbreaker Awards.
The awards, which include five categories, aim to highlight projects shaping more sustainable, equitable and resilient buildings.
“From community leadership to cutting-edge sustainable design, these nominees are raising the bar for resilience in our region."Green Building United
“From community leadership to cutting-edge sustainable design, these nominees are raising the bar for resilience in our region,” Green Building United officials said in a blog post announcing the nominees.
Winners will be announced during an awards celebration Oct. 9 in Philadelphia.
Sustainable renovations
Both ATAS International and Lehigh Valley International Airport were nominated in the award’s Sustainable New Development or Major Renovation category, focused on renovations or expansions.
ATAS was nominated for its 53,000-square-foot expansion of its facility on Grant Way.
“The expansion, completed in May 2025, adds to the existing building’s energy-efficient features, including a solar array and transpired solar collector wall panels,” according to Green Building United’s website.
“These InSpire panels are expected to save the company over $9,000 in annual energy costs by using solar power to heat air for the building’s ventilation system.”
LehighValleyNews.com has reached out to ATAS International for comment.
“We are extremely proud to have achieved LEED Gold Certification in the new state of the art TSA Checkpoint at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), which demonstrates the organization's environmental stewardship.”Thomas R. Stoudt, executive director
LVIA was nominated for its security checkpoint, which opened in August of 2023.
While the 25,000-square-foot area aimed to improve passenger flow and increase capacity, it also had sustainable features, including “electric vehicle charging stations, a 38% reduction in indoor water use and a high-performance building envelope.”
“The new facility also achieved a 27% energy cost savings compared to typical buildings, thanks to its efficient heating and cooling systems, and optimized lighting controls,” according to the website.
In May, the project earned LEED Gold certification. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system worldwide.
“As part of our strategic initiatives, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority [LNAA] incorporates sustainability principals in design and construction of infrastructure projects,” Executive Director Thomas R. Stoudt said.
“We are extremely proud to have achieved LEED Gold Certification in the new state of the art TSA Checkpoint at Lehigh Valley International Airport [ABE], which demonstrates the organization's environmental stewardship.”
New construction
Lehigh University’s Health, Science, Technology building was nominated in the award’s Sustainable New Development or Major Renovation category, focused on new construction.
“Completed in 2022, the Health, Science, and Technology building is a 190,000-square-foot facility on Lehigh’s campus that provides modern research and teaching space for the university’s College of Health,” according to the nomination.
“The building earned both LEED Gold and Fitwel Three Star certifications due to its sustainable features, which include a rainwater reclamation system, energy-conserving chilled beams, and a green roof.”
Fitwel, a real estate platform, offers healthy building certifications for existing buildings and new construction to promote public health indoors.
“Lehigh's Health, Science and Technology building was designed with sustainability in mind and we are proud to be recognized as a 2025 Groundbreaker Awards nominee."Lehigh University
“Lehigh's Health, Science and Technology building was designed with sustainability in mind and we are proud to be recognized as a 2025 Groundbreaker Awards nominee,” university officials said in a statement.
“HST earned LEED Gold certification and has been recognized for its health, wellness and sustainable features, including a green roof and water and energy conservation measures.
"HST’s facilities and collaborative spaces create community connection and inspire interdisciplinary research, advancing our impact as a top research university.”
For more information on the awards and the celebration, go to Green Building United’s website.
