Downtown Jax’s Cowford Chophouse Recognized with LEED Silver Certification

Cowford Chophouse has already won awards for its stunning restoration of the crumbling Bostwick Building at 101 E. Bay Street.

Now it’s being recognized again, this time for its dedication to efficiency and eco-friendliness.

The restaurant recently announced that it has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Cowford Chophouse was recognized because of the use of environmentally-friendly materials during construction and the energy efficiency of its design and infrastructure.

“The preservation of Jacksonville is an important part of what Cowford stands for,” said Cowford Chophouse owner Jacques Klempf. “Preserving our community through sustainable business practices is just as important as saving a piece of history. This LEED certification is another representation of our passion for the vitality of Jacksonville, from hospitality to public health to environmental responsibility.”

The building, which was built in 1902, was purchased by Klempf in 2014 with plans to convert it into a grand new steakhouse to fall under his Forking Amazing Restaurants group.

Danis Construction, Breaking Ground Contracting, and Design Cooperative led the building’s dramatic, lengthy transformation process as it was restored and re-made into Cowford Chophouse. Installation of water- and energy-efficient infrastructure during construction has helped the building achieve a 25% water use reduction. Much of the building’s original structure was painstakingly recycled and reconfigured to match with the newly-built portions.

“We respect the history of this building and the future of our city and believe this achievement is a testament to both,” said Steve Betz, president of Danis Construction. “The use of sustainable methods and materials is not only good for the environment, but good for business. Danis strives to incorporate this practice into all of our projects, whether seeking LEED certification or not.”

The LEED certification process evaluates things like water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, design innovation, and more. Based on the various categories, the Chophouse’s building reached a score of 51, qualifying it for Silver status.

To learn more about Cowford Chophouse, visit the restaurant’s website at cowfordchophouse.com.