By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

The Atlanta Botanical Garden parking deck whose proposed construction was protested by some Atlantans who didn’t want such a facility in Piedmont Park has been awarded LEED certification for its green design, construction and operations.

The deck, which the garden shares with the adjoining park, and its Hardin Visitor Center were recently given a gold ranking, the second highest-level of certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, for the facilities’ use of energy, lighting, water and materials, among other considerations.

Both were designed by the Atlanta architectural firm Jova/Dainels/Busby. HOWARD POUSNER