Plante & Moran PLLC has received LEED Gold Certification for Commercial Interiors from the U.S. Green Building Council for its new Grand Rapids office.
The Grand Rapids office, 634 Front Ave. NW, Suite 400, received LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. The certification was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impacted the project itself and the broader community, including:
* Selection of an urban site that preserved green space while reducing urban sprawl
* A “white” roof that reduces energy usage and the urban “heat island” effect
* Savings of 42 percent on water and sewage through the use of water-efficient plumbing fixtures
* Use of highly energy-efficient heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting and water systems to minimize environmental impact
* Recycling of 50 percent of all construction waste, thereby diverting it from landfills
* Reuse of 30 percent of furniture and furnishings in the new office, with the rest donated to area non-profits
* Use of locally made and recycled materials to minimize transportation and energy costs
* Direct access to windows in more than 75 percent of occupied spaces
* Use of a “green” housekeeping program to protect the health of occupants and the environment
* On-site recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic and other materials
Additionally, Plante & Moran utilized low-emitting materials, paints, sealants and adhesives throughout the construction process.
“Plante & Moran’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to some of the most important challenges of our time. The work of innovative building projects such as the Grand Rapids office of Plante & Moran is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.”
Plante & Moran moved into its new, larger and “greener” office space in December 2008. The firm occupies two floors in the 634 Front Ave. NW building, which was also awarded LEED certification.
The new offices better facilitate team collaboration of the 103 staff members and enhance the firm’s ability to serve clients. To encourage efficiency and collaboration, staff members are clustered around the firm’s seven industry focuses: manufacturing, health care, financial institutions, real estate and construction, service industries, private equity and public sector.
“We are extremely pleased to be recognized with LEED Gold Certification for our sustainability efforts,” said Rich Antonini, office managing partner of Grand Rapids. “We have found that our investment in green design has paid dividends in many ways – from the obvious savings in energy costs and reduced impact on landfills to secondary benefits such as recruiting and staff pride.”
More at www.plantemoran.com.
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