One might not associate “green” with “dry” out in nature, but we’ve been embracing the two words together for more than 50 years. In fact, they’ve worked so well under the same roof that we decided to expand it—along with the rest of our very busy facility as part of our efforts to always be a leader in sustainability.
Having achieved LEED Gold certification with our last expansion in 2011, we knew the time was right to give our innovative operation even more room to grow. Our recently completed sustainable office renovation will allow us to build on our demonstrated commitment to green design in an optimal environment: 5,000 additional square feet of state-of-the-art, health-conscious and supremely green office space.
Wellness within Our Walls
Our LEED Gold certification had set the bar for future work, and we’ve continued to deliver ever since—from the introduction of several new hygienic, energy-efficient hand dryers to the publication of the industry’s first Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) for those dryers. In keeping with our mission and values for our next expansion, we set out to create a functional space that would help promote not only sustainability, but the wellness of everyone within our walls.
We ensured that combination by taking a human-centric approach to green design, incorporating the best building solutions with expert guidance from Fennick McCredie Architecture. We prioritized ergonomic workspaces and other elements to make our facility a more comfortable and inspiring place to be. Some health-minded highlights include:
MERV 13 air filters and UVGI lamps within the ventilation system to remove air pollutants and bacteria
a sound-masking system to help block noise and reduce distractions
living walls and nods to nature in many décor features to bring the outside in for a calming effect, a prominent feature of biophilic design
These steps have allowed us to pursue WELL Building Standard®certification after our previous LEED Gold certification. WELL certification is a strict industry standard focused on all aspects of human health.
Sustainable Office Renovation: Now That’s Some Green Design
On the greening side, this renovation had us thinking both inside and outside the box—or, more accurately, the building.
Along with indoor, tunable, LED lights, we installed larger windows and skylights, reducing energy usage by bringing in more natural light. The addition also boasts a Firestone SkyScape™ Wave Modular Tray, topping our building with a vegetative roof system. More than just pretty to look at, this incredible feature will use rainwater to grow and maintain a garden.
And of course, no effective redesign would be complete without our own clean and green products. We’ve outfitted every restroom with the D|13 Sink System featuring our XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer, offering every employee and visitor the no-touch, one-stop, intuitive hand hygiene experience they deserve. The XLERATORsync hand dryer has an Environmental Product Declaration and a Health Product Declaration, to ensure absolute product transparency.
Sustainability Is In Our Products Veins
Every aspect of this sustainable office renovation focused on protecting our environment. Our carpets from Interface are made from recycled fishing nets from the world’s poorest coastal environments. By using recycled materials, this office renovation helps to sustain the environment.
This design focused on biophilic design. The conference room provides a relaxing environment for meetings due to the gorgeous living plant wall which makes employees feel like they are out in nature. This is very important when being inside for the majority of the day. In the employee social nook, there is a willow glass wall that shows an image of a waterfall that contributes to the relaxing environment that we desired as part of this sustainable office renovation.
Visit Our Facility To Experience The Office Of The Future
We hope you get a chance to visit our green and growing facility. As energy efficient as this sustainable office renovation is, we’ve never been more energized to keep doing what we do.
