Gary Coopersmith of Sweetwater Construction Corp. Achieves LEED AP Designation

Part of Firm-Wide “Green” Initiative

CRANBURY, N.J. (June 1, 2009) – Gary Coopersmith, vice president for Sweetwater Construction Corp., has achieved the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professional (AP) designation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)/Green Building Certification Institute.
                      
Coopersmith is the second member of Sweetwater’s executive team to have achieved the LEED AP designation, after Ronald Witt Sr., the company’s founder and president. They join the owners of construction management and general contracting firms nationwide who have recognized the significance of “green” building trends to the future of the building industry.

The LEED AP designation was launched in February 2001 by the USGBC, the non-profit organization devoted to green building that also developed the LEED rating system for buildings. The designation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process.

“Sweetwater has launched an initiative to have more members of our executive team achieve the LEED AP designation,” Mr. Witt said. “Our ability to manage sophisticated green building technologies is important to clients involved in the green building movement. The LEED AP designation is a means of strengthening our credentials.”

The LEED rating system is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance sustainable buildings. The system addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material and resources selection and indoor environmental quality, according to the USGBC.

Mr. Coopersmith achieved LEED AP designation in the New Construction (NC) category, which provides a standard for professionals participating in the design and construction phases of high-performance, healthful, durable, affordable and environmentally sound commercial, institutional and high-rise residential buildings.

As project executive for science and technology, Mr. Coopersmith is responsible for overseeing projects from preconstruction through completion.  Two projects he has recently been involved in are the MALO Ambulatory Oral Surgery Center and Dental Clinic in Rutherford, N.J., and NorthStar VETS, a veterinary specialty and emergency trauma center in Robbinsville, N.J.

Sweetwater specializes in the science and technology, hospitality, multi-family and institutional sectors, but in recent years has made a particular specialty of healthcare and surgery centers. Over the last five years, Sweetwater has built 15 surgery centers in New Jersey.

Mr. Coopersmith, who has 22 years of experience in the building industry, is a member of the New Jersey chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., and a master’s degree in business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford, N.J.
 
About Sweetwater Construction Corp.

Established in 1974 and headquartered in Cranbury, N.J., Sweetwater Construction is guided by a proven management team and a client-centric business philosophy. Sweetwater provides clients with expert preconstruction and construction services backed by professional commitment and personal accountability. Sweetwater’s project teams possess proven track records in the corporate, healthcare, science and technology, hospitality, multi-family and institutional sectors. Sweetwater’s notable project methodology delivers expertise in budgeting, estimating, constructability, lifecycle reviews and project control methodology; all of which contribute to a successful project. For more information please visit http://www.sweetwatercorp.com.