CHICAGO - The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) recently announced the designation of its headquarters as a LEED® Gold-certified space under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI). Designed by Envision Design, Washington, D.C., the new headquarters is the first professional design association to receive this designation.
IIDA's new headquarters is an illustration of green ideas at work-featuring products and materials that demonstrate how sustainable design can be both beautiful and functional. Notably, 25 percent of the materials specified for the project are made with post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials including carpet, upholstered wall panels, gypsum board, ceiling tiles, millwork, steel framing and office furniture. Another 5 percent of the products specified are made with rapidly renewable materials such as cork flooring, wool area rugs and agrifiber core panels for millwork.
An energy-efficient under floor air delivery system in the office area allows for individual temperature control. Fluorescent lighting fixtures are used throughout the space and highly efficient T5 linear pendant fixtures are used in office areas. In addition, certain environmental design elements have naturally lent themselves to green design. Partitions between open workstations were designed to be low and allow for views to the windows beyond from a seated position, and private offices have been enclosed with continuous floor to ceiling glass walls with glass doors in order to maximize the penetration of natural light.
Many IIDA corporate members, manufacturers and suppliers contributed to the project, including: Allsteel, Armstrong World Industries, Carl Hansen & Son, Carnegie Fabrics, Davis Furniture, Focal Point LLC, Haworth, HBF, Herman Miller, Interior Investments, Knoll, Lees Carpets, Luna Textiles, Lutron, Maharam, Merida Meridian Inc., Office [R]evolution, Shaw Contract Group, Teknion, and Urban Hardwoods. Project support was provided by general contractor Turner Construction, KJWW Engineering Consultants and Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. The project, in fact, illustrates the wide variety of products available in the marketplace whose manufacturing and distribution leave a light footprint on the earth.
In addition to office space for IIDA's professional staff, the new headquarters houses the Association's conference and learning center. The center includes state-of-the-art meeting space for Association events, and will be available for meetings and programs for local businesses and organizations.
"From the start, the Association was committed to providing its members with a space that truly illustrates the power of design," notes Kendall Wilson, IIDA, AIA, LEED AP, principal with Envision Design. "IIDA believes that good design must include sustainable strategies that minimize environmental impact and provide healthy and productive spaces for people."
"IIDA is committed to serving as a resource for all designers looking to make smart decisions in their design solutions," says Cheryl Durst, Hon. IIDA, LEED AP, IIDA EVP/CEO. "As the Association's sustainability mission states: IIDA seeks to promote awareness and knowledge of interior design strategies that reduce negative impacts on our natural environment and improve the health and wellbeing of all people. The new headquarters is an illustration of these tenets in action for our members and the design community."
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) works to enhance quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge, value and community. IIDA is a professional networking and educational association of 13,000 members in nine specialty forums in 30 Chapters around the world. Additional information is available on IIDA's Web site.
