In a city struggling with economic hardship, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland, OH, stands for green renewal. In 2002, the cathedral, in conjunction with the Diocese of Ohio, expanded its buildings using green building principles and became an example of urban revitalization as well as sustainable development. As the city’s first downtown green renovation, the project won the Cleveland Engineering Society’s Excellence in Renovation Award and was a finalist for the Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement in neighborhood revitalization.

The project connected two 19th century buildings and an early 20th century gothic cathedral. Geothermal energy is derived from more than 100 wells dug 250-feet beneath the parking lot. The new portions of the buildings feature composite stone made from remnants of the limestone mining process. Water- and electricity-saving mechanisms are used throughout the buildings, and they are fully ADA-compliant.

The church opened storefronts to promote downtown economic development, including a fair trade café, a fair trade gift shop, and a diocesan bookstore. “We took it upon ourselves to stay in the city and reinvest in the city,” said Tracey Lind, Dean of Trinity Cathedral. With an outdoor piazza and plenty of gathering space, the site is used for nearly 2000 events hosted by outside sponsors each year. “It has become one of Cleveland’s great meeting places,” according to Lind.

The greening of the church has inspired members to think more carefully about the environmental impacts of the church’s activities as well—from cleaning to producing bulletins. “The church historically has been good at telling others what to do to be socially responsible, but we don’t always do it ourselves,” said Lind. “Now we’re thinking about it from all sides and really putting our money where our mouth is.”

Contact: The Very Rev. Tracey Lind
Web: www.trinitycleveland.org
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