A week before Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Services opened its doors to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the East Boothbay lab picked up a prestigious award.

During the December 14 open house, Executive Director Graham Shimmield said Bigelow was hoping for a Gold certification for sustainability and environmentally-friendly design.

The $31.8 million facility didn't get the gold certification; it did even better.

The laboratory was designated as a LEED Platinum facility by the US Green Building Council, making it the first laboratory in Maine to receive the award and one of seven in New England to receive the same award.

The new 60,000-square-foot building was lauded for its sustainable design. Architects and engineers from Bangor's WBRC and the Boston, Mass.-based Perkins+Will worked with Bigelow scientists on the design of the new building. Portland-based Consigli Construction Co. carried out the work.

“This is an absolutely transformational time for us, and we're profoundly grateful for the wonderful generosity and vision of everyone who has helped this day become a reality,” Bigelow Board of Trustees Chairman David Coit said in a release.