In late September 2007, The Queen’s Botanical Garden unveiled New York’s first Platinum LEED rating, the U.S. Green Buildings Council's highest sustainability standard. The 15,830 square foot environmentally-sustainable structure will house visitor and administration facilities. Green design elements include: a geothermal heating and cooling system that reduces reliance on fossil fuels, a gray water collection system that filters water from sinks and showers to be reused in toilets, a solar-powered rooftop that provides 20% of the building’s electricity, and a rainwater-collecting canopy to feed fountains and native vegetation. The recycled water system allows the structure to consume 30% less water than comparably sized buildings. The project was designed by BKSK Architects.