Herman Miller's National Design Center in Washington, D.C., has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Commercial Interiors (CI) category. The facility also acted as a pilot for the new LEED-CI category.
The Washington facility earned LEED Gold in part through its effective use of natural light and its use of 100 percent green power. The project earned Innovation credits through its use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials, notably those present in Herman Miller products.
The complete news release follows.
Herman Miller Earns LEED Gold Certification for Its National Design Center in Washington, D.C.
Herman Miller's National Design Center in Washington, D.C., has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Commercial Interiors (CI) category. The facility, which also acted as a pilot for the new LEED-CI category, earned 39 credit points, just three credits short of LEED Platinum certification.
The 16,000-square-foot facility serves as a sales and resource center for the regional architecture and design community. It includes a gallery of Herman Miller furnishings, conference discovery rooms, a cafe, knowledge-sharing areas, and a working office environment for Herman Miller's Sales Team. Among the qualities that earned the project its Gold LEED status are its effective use of natural light, its proximity to mass transit, and its use of 100 percent green power.
"The Washington National Design Center demonstrates that sophisticated and compelling interior design can be beautifully enhanced by the principles of environmental sustainability," said Ray Kennedy, who directs Corporate Merchandising, A&D, and the Customer Experience for Herman Miller. "In fact, sustainable guidelines can result in a more thoughtful and integrated approach to project goals, design elements, and building systems."
The USGBC reviewed and rated the National Design Center in five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality, in addition to Innovation and Design Process. The project earned Innovation credits thanks to its significant use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials, notably those present in Herman Miller products.
Hamilton Square, the building in which the Herman Miller NDC is located, was constructed in 1930 as the flagship for the venerable Garfinkel's department store chain. Completely renovated in 1996 for Class-A office and retail tenants, Hamilton Square has historic landmark status in the District.
"Achieving LEED Gold certification exceeded Herman Miller's stated minimum corporate goal of LEED Silver for its new buildings and interiors," said Rico Cedro, Director of Sustainable Design for Chicago architects Krueck & Sexton. "We consciously pushed beyond the typical LEED thresholds for materials. A large part of our achievement in this project is a result of the Herman Miller furniture itself."
The U.S. Green Building Council developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System to encourage and facilitate the development of more sustainable buildings.
The Washington National Design Center (NDC) has been open since September 2004 and is among a growing number of Herman Miller NDCs in the country, including sites in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Herman Miller helps create great places to work, heal, learn, and live by researching, designing, manufacturing, and distributing innovative interior solutions that support companies, organizations, and individuals all over the world. The company's award-winning products, complemented by furniture-management and strategic consulting services, generated over $1.51 billion in revenue during fiscal 2005. Herman Miller is widely recognized both for its innovative products and business practices. In fiscal 2004, Herman Miller was named recipient of the prestigious National Design Award for product design from the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. In 2005, the company was again included in Business Ethics magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" and was cited by Fortune magazine as the "Most Admired" company in its industry. The company trades on the NASDAQ market under the symbol MLHR. For additional information visit www.HermanMiller.com.
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