At 159,000 square feet, the $30 million David D. Hunting YMCA is one of the largest urban YMCA’s anywhere. Now the facility is the world’s only LEED-certified YMCA.

 The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification last week. The Hunting family, who donated $5 million to fundraising efforts in honor of their father David D. Hunting, urged pursuit of the certification.

Bazzani Associates recently received the nation’s first Double Gold LEED Certification for The East Hills Center (Of the Universe) building, corner of Lake Drive and Diamond. Gold certifications were awarded for both LEED-CS and LEED-CI.

In many ways, the fact that charitable giving has laid the bedrock now supporting Grand Rapids striking renaissance seems fairly obvious. Just read the names identifying the buildings at the heart of the city's redevelopment: the Van Andel Institute, DeVos Place, the Wege Center, Secchia Hall, the Cook Research Institute, Meijer Gardens.

Think about Grand Rapids-area architecture. A lot of new construction is going on. There are so many cranes overlooking downtown today, you’d think we were living in Beijing.

Let’s look a little closer at some of these glamorous attention getters: certainly, The Lacks Cancer Center. The Rapids' Central Station. The new Metropolitan Hospital. But also, look at some smaller projects: The Helmus Building. Keystone Community Church. The East Hills Center (of the Universe.). What do all these destinations have in common?