The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded an historic office building in Boston’s Leather District its LEED Core and Shell Silver Certification.

The 220,000-square-foot building, located at 179 Lincoln St., was recognized for exceptional sustainable design and energy efficiency in its new core and shell construction. The developer, Millennium Partners-Boston, and its broker, CB Richard Ellis, said it is among the first LEED-certified historic renovations in Boston.

"179 Lincoln Street is essentially a totally recycled building with its Beaux Arts exterior fabric preserved," said Anthony Pangaro, principal of Millennium Partners-Boston. "We’re thrilled to be among the city’s first LEED-certified historic renovations."

179 Lincoln St. was purchased by Millennium Partners-Boston in 2006. The building underwent a significant transformation that included modern interiors, a new entrance and lobby, a sky-lit central atrium with coffee shop, and below-grade parking. The five-story building, designed by CBT Architects, also features large floor plates, high ceilings, and abundant natural light. It was recently honored by the Boston Preservation Alliance with its 2009 Preservation Achievement Award for the Best Adaptive Use of Historic Industrial Space.