UNLV Medical School Earns Highest Green Building Honor

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV just proved that training future doctors and protecting the planet aren't competing priorities.

The medical school received LEED Platinum Certification for the operations and maintenance of its Medical Education Building. The U.S. Green Building Council will present the certification medallion to the school's facilities team on Monday.

LEED Platinum represents the highest tier in the world's most widely used green building rating system. Only buildings that meet the strictest criteria for energy efficiency and environmental health earn this distinction.

"The LEED Platinum certification for Operations and Maintenance reflects our medical school's commitment to creating a healthy, high-performing environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors," said Dr. Alison Netski, interim dean and vice president of health affairs for UNLV.

The five-story, 135,000-square-foot building opened in 2022 in the Las Vegas Medical District. It houses standardized patient rooms, a simulation suite, virtual anatomy classrooms, and a prosection lab, plus amenities like an outdoor terrace and walking trail.

This achievement marks an even bigger win than the building's original certification. The facility first earned LEED Silver Certification for its design and construction before reaching Platinum status for how it actually operates day to day.

The Ripple Effect

This accomplishment sends a powerful message across Nevada's healthcare landscape. TSK Architects designed the building with funding from the Nevada Health & Bioscience Corporation, a nonprofit focused on academic medicine in Southern Nevada.

"From the outset of this project, we sought to create a place where Nevada could attract and educate future doctors and improve the overall healthcare of Southern Nevada," said James Waddoups, the corporation's CEO.

The medical school now serves as a living laboratory where future physicians learn in an environment that practices what healthcare should preach: promoting wellness for people and the planet. Students training in this building will carry these sustainability principles into their careers, potentially influencing how hospitals and clinics operate across the region for decades to come.

Every exam room, every study session, and every simulated patient interaction now happens in a space that proves excellence doesn't require environmental compromise.