PORT ANGELES — A recent $50,000 grant awarded by First Fed Foundation to Field Arts & Events Hall is earmarked for energy-efficient construction upgrades.

The grant awarded last fall, coupled with a $50,000 grant in 2020, underwrites the full cost for Field Hall to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

“First Fed Foundation is delighted to support Field Hall, which promises to be an economic engine for the region, a cornerstone for the revitalization of Port Angeles’s waterfront, and a cultural and educational resource for the community,” said Jan Simon, Foundation executive director.

”That our funding makes it possible for Field Hall to achieve LEED Gold Certification and serve as an environmental steward, makes our giving even more gratifying,” Simon said.

The grant was the largest of the nine First Fed Foundation grants made to organizations on the North Olympic Peninsula that totaled $145,000.

Other recipients were Clallam County Fire Protection District 4, Feiro Marine Life Center, Financial Beginnings Washington, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Kitsap Sexual Assault Center — which provides emergency assistance in both Kitsap and Jefferson counties, Trinity United Methodist Church, Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers and New Image.

The LEED program represents efforts by a coalition led by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to establish a nationwide standard for constructing “green” buildings that use sustainable design, construction, and operations.

“LEED-certified buildings like Field Hall not only work to reduce carbon emissions, conserve energy, save water, and eliminate waste. They can also have a profound impact on people’s health,” according to Chris Fidler, Field Hall’s project director.

”For example, research indicates improving indoor air quality can lead to an increase in worker productivity and a reduction of lost time linked to respiratory issues, depression, or stress,” Fidler said.

”Studies also indicate many people working in or visiting green buildings report feeling healthier and more personally productive.”

The design for Field Arts & Events Hall has earned a Gold Certification.

Obtaining LEED certification requires compliance with a minimum number of criteria affecting aspects of a project from site selection to the recycled content of building materials. Projects earn points for LEED criteria they fulfill; those that earn more points are awarded a higher certification.

Once complete, Field Hall will offer a 500-seat theater, waterfront and mountain-view conference and event spaces, an art gallery and a café.

“The building marks the start of a major renovation of the Port Angeles downtown waterfront and the first of three buildings dedicated to the arts, sciences, and cultural studies known as the Port Angeles Waterfront Center,” said Steve Raider-Ginsburg, executive director.

Field Hall will celebrate its grand opening weekend July 29-30.

For more information about Field Hall’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.fieldhallevents.org/leed .