Herman Miller Inc. has extended its reach of LEED Gold certified building projects across the Atlantic to the United Kingdom. Its international operations headquarters, named VillageGreen, is the company's 12th facility to be awarded LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and the seventh to achieve LEED Gold.
Ed Nagelkirk, senior manager of Workplace Strategy and Facilities for Herman Miller, believes the "less is more" approach to VillageGreen was central to achieving Gold certification. "The integrity of the building materials, such as the exposed concrete, structural timbers and corrugated decking, shows beautifully and requires no additional finish," he adds.
VillageGreen was designed by international architecture firm Gensler to achieve the highest certification for best practice in environmental design and management. Completed in January 2006, it already has achieved the United Kingdom's BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent award.
Several notable details qualified VillageGreen for LEED Gold, including:
- Natural ventilation-a computerized system adjusts airflow, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
- All timber is from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sustainable sources.
- Recycled aggregate building materials are sourced from within 30 kilometers.
- All carpeting is recyclable.
- Energy-efficient lighting is activated by movement sensors.
- Seventy-five percent of the building is exposed to natural daylight and 95 percent of the office space includes a view of the outside.
- Cycle racks and showers are provided to encourage alternative transportation.
"VillageGreen provides an efficient and dynamic work environment for employees and it also has become a popular customer destination," says John Portlock, president of Herman Miller International. "It also serves as a living case study about the possibilities that exist with sustainable design."
For more information, contact Susan Koole at [email protected].
About Herman Miller
The designs and services of Herman Miller enhance the performance of human habitats worldwide, making customers' lives more productive, rewarding, delightful, and meaningful. The company 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. For additional information, visit http://www.hermanmiller.com/.
