Building an Emerald City is both the story of how Seattle, Washington transformed itself into a leader in sustainable 'green' building, written by one of the principal figures in that transformation, and a practical guide for anyone who wants to bring about similar changes in their city. Lucia Athens blends case studies from cities throughout the U.S. with her own experiences and insights into the processes that led Seattle to become home to one of the highest concentration of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings in the world. The result is a far-reaching book with broad applicability to the transformation of city building policies that encourage and reinforce 'green' development.