The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center is the culmination of a rigorous process by which the Aldo Leopold Foundation, along with a TKWA-led design team, undertook the task of creating a new headquarters facility while attempting to remain true to the ecological, aesthetic, and scientific spirit of Aldo Leopold's Land Ethic. In October 2007, the Leopold Legacy Center received a LEED® Platinum rating and became the highest-rated building measured under the USGBC rating system. It is the first building recognized by LEED® as carbon neutral in operation, and as a ‘zero net energy’ building, the Leopold Center produces over 110% of its annual building energy needs.

The Center makes extensive use of wood sustainably harvested on-site from trees originally planted in the 1940’s by the Leopold family. A 38kw photovoltaic array is one of the largest in the state, and innovative HVAC and ventilation systems reduce energy demand. The building balances energy demands for comfort, light, and power with energy available from the sun, wind, and biomass resources of the site.