Fiserv Forum becomes one of only two NBA arenas to earn LEED v4.1 Platinum certification for operations

MILWAUKEE (May 30, 2025) – Fiserv Forum has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. Fiserv Forum joins Portland’s Moda Center as one of only two NBA arenas to achieve LEED Platinum certification under LEED v4.1 for Operations and Maintenance (O+M), and it becomes the first LEED Platinum sports venue in Wisconsin.

 

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Fiserv Forum achieved LEED Platinum certification with a score of 80, which puts it among the leaders in sports and entertainment venues.

 

“Thanks to our incredible staff and partners, we achieved LEED Platinum certification within just seven years of opening Fiserv Forum, solidifying our deep commitment to sustainability and building on our previous Silver and Gold certifications,” said Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Fiserv Forum. “The Milwaukee Bucks continue to raise the bar in leadership by operating Fiserv Forum as a sustainable and energy-efficient building for employees, fans and visitors.”

 

Fiserv Forum received LEED Platinum certification in part due to its sustainability initiatives in four categories: water, waste, transportation and human experience. Fiserv Forum has tracked its performance in each category over the last 12 months using Arc, a software platform that monitors sustainability efforts according to LEED guidelines. The initiatives considered in each category are:

• Water: Added touchless faucets throughout the arena, improved the tracking of domestic water entering the arena and implemented an improved water treatment plan to reduce water consumption in cooling towers.   
• Waste: Implemented a trash sorting program following each arena event, increased recycling efforts and implemented new food waste practices using the Orca Food Digester to limit the amount of food waste in landfills.
• Transportation: Added Bublr Bike and Lyft stations outside the arena, leading to a higher rate of employees walking, biking or using public transportation to work based on employee surveys.
• Human Experience: Enhanced air quality management by installing Kaiterra sensors that monitor the quality and safety of air inside the arena.

“This recognition is a testament to what’s possible when innovation is guided by purpose,” said Nate Manning, President, Americas at Johnson Controls. “We’re proud to continue our collaboration with the Bucks and Fiserv Forum to create healthier, more energy-efficient environments that ultimately elevate the fan experience.”

 

Prior to its LEED Platinum certification, Fiserv Forum earned USGBC’s LEED Gold (v4.1 O+M: Existing Buildings recertification) in 2021 and LEED Silver certification (2009 New Construction) in 2019, just one year after the arena opened in 2018. With the highest certification, the Bucks continue their commitment to operating Fiserv Forum as a sustainability leader in the community and state.

 

“LEED certification is the ultimate recognition of global green building leadership, signaling that a space has undergone rigorous third-party verification and meets the highest green building standards,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of USGBC. “The success of LEED is due to the partnership and support of those committed to advancing green building and sustainability. Each new LEED certification brings us one step closer to revolutionizing the spaces where we live, learn, work and play.”

 

Fiserv Forum and the Bucks would like to extend a special thank you to Founding and Smart Building partner, Johnson Controls, and the organization's first Global Sustainability partner, Wilo, for their contributions to this achievement. Fiserv Forum and the Bucks also recognize Populous, EUA, GFL Environmental, Arch Solar, We Energies and Kimberly Clark as partners in sustainability.