The Collage Companies is proud to celebrate a significant achievement in sustainable construction: Climate First Bank’s St. Petersburg headquarters has earned LEED v4 Commercial Interiors Platinum certification, achieving 81 points and the highest certification level available through the internationally recognized LEED green building rating system.
Awarded through Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the certification recognizes the project’s commitment to environmentally responsible design, energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. For Climate First Bank and its project partners, the achievement represents the successful transformation of an existing commercial building into a modern, high-performance headquarters that reflects the bank’s environmental mission. Located at 182 37th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, the 5,781-square-foot headquarters demonstrates how thoughtful design, innovative construction and a shared commitment to sustainability can create lasting value for businesses, communities and the environment.
What LEED Platinum Certification Represents
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one of the world’s most widely recognized green building rating systems. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED evaluates buildings based on environmental performance, resource efficiency and sustainable design and construction practices. Projects earn points across categories that address energy performance, water efficiency, materials, indoor environmental quality and other sustainability considerations.
LEED certification is awarded at four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Platinum represents the highest level of achievement, requiring projects to demonstrate exceptional performance across multiple sustainability measures. Climate First Bank’s headquarters earned 81 points under LEED v4 Commercial Interiors, exceeding the 80-point threshold required for Platinum certification.
For a financial institution founded on environmental responsibility, this recognition carries particular significance. It demonstrates that the bank’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its financial products and services into the physical environment where its employees work and customers are served.
Transforming an Existing Building into a Sustainable Headquarters
Rather than pursuing new construction, Climate First Bank elected to renovate an existing commercial property, an approach that supports resource conservation by retaining and adapting an established structure.
The decision also presented opportunities to incorporate advanced building systems and sustainable design strategies while minimizing the environmental impact associated with constructing a new facility. The Collage Companies served as Design Builder, overseeing the design and construction process and coordinating the specialized systems, materials and construction practices required to support the project’s environmental objectives.
The comprehensive renovation incorporated energy-efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, sustainable interior materials and finishes, electric vehicle charging stations and renewable energy infrastructure. The headquarters was also designed to support net-zero energy performance through optimized building systems and renewable energy strategies. Together, these improvements demonstrate how existing commercial buildings can be reimagined to meet modern operational needs while supporting ambitious environmental goals.
The Role of Design Build in Achieving Sustainability Goals
Achieving an advanced green building certification requires more than selecting environmentally responsible materials or installing energy-efficient equipment. It requires coordination throughout the design and construction process to ensure that building systems, materials and construction practices work together to support established performance objectives.
Through its integrated Design Build approach, The Collage Companies brings owners, architects, engineers and construction professionals together around shared project goals. For the Climate First Bank headquarters, that collaboration was especially important. The renovation required extensive coordination of building systems, sustainable materials, construction sequencing and quality control. Collage worked closely with project partners to ensure that the environmental strategies established during design were carried through construction and installation.
An additional challenge was that portions of the facility remained operational throughout the renovation. Collage implemented a phased construction approach to separate active work areas from occupied spaces, coordinate building system upgrades and maintain safe access for employees and customers. Careful scheduling, communication and site management allowed construction to progress while banking operations continued. The result is a completed headquarters that combines contemporary workplace functionality with environmental performance.
A Partnership Built on Shared Values
The St. Petersburg headquarters represents another milestone in the relationship between The Collage Companies and Climate First Bank. Following the successful completion of the bank’s Winter Park branch in 2023, Collage was once again entrusted to help translate the institution’s mission into a physical environment that reflects its values.
Working alongside design partners KMF Architects and Tri3 Studios, Collage helped deliver a facility that brings together sustainability, workplace functionality and the bank’s commitment to serving its community. The headquarters celebrated its grand opening in 2025, marking the completion of a project built around Climate First Bank’s guiding principles of people, planet and purpose. Now, with LEED Platinum certification officially achieved, the project adds an important distinction to that partnership.
The recognition also demonstrates how collaboration among owners, designers and builders can produce meaningful environmental outcomes while meeting the practical demands of a commercial renovation.
Building Responsibly for the Future
At The Collage Companies, environmental stewardship is an important part of how we approach Design Build, construction management and community partnerships. From incorporating energy-efficient systems and responsible material selections to identifying opportunities for adaptive reuse and resilient construction, we recognize that the decisions we make during construction have an impact long after a project is complete.
We are proud to work with clients who share our commitment to thoughtful planning, responsible resource management and long-term performance. Climate First Bank’s headquarters is an excellent example of these principles in action. Earning LEED Platinum certification with 81 points represents more than an industry distinction. It reflects a shared commitment to creating buildings that operate efficiently, support the people who use them and contribute to a more sustainable future.
We congratulate Climate First Bank and the entire project team on this outstanding achievement and are honored to have played a role in bringing this vision to life.
Learn more: The Collage Companies – Design Build Services