On November 4, 2015, J. Vince Thompson Elementary School received a Gold Level Certification from U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable design. 

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.  The process is transforming the way we think about how buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe.  LEED certification is granted by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), whose core purpose is to "transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life."  A building can earn credits toward LEED certification through performance in six key areas of human and environmental health:

• Sustainable Sites
• Water Savings
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation and Design Process

LEED certification identifies J. Vince Thompson Elementary School as a showcase example of sustainable design and demonstrates leadership in transforming the building industry.  Larry Wilder and John Thompson of Wilder Architecture, Inc. were actively involved for three years to successfully deliver Hillsborough County Public Schools first LEED certified (GOLD) project.