How the U.S. Green Building Council New Headquarters Earned LEED-CI Platinum

The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) new LEED-for-Commercial-Interiors (LEED-CI) Platinum headquarters confirms that not only is the green economy alive and well, it’s thriving. The explosive growth of the green building industry, projected to soar to $60 billion by 2010, led to a similarly dramatic expansion of USGBC’s staff, and in 2008, USGBC recognized that the Council was busting at the seams and needed a new, more sizable workspace. As the organization that brings together the world’s leaders in green building science and technology, USGBC also recognized the need to build a headquarters on the leading edge of innovation and performance, exemplifying LEED and setting the bar at new heights. Using the newest version of LEED pushed USGBC’s new space to achieve the very best building science and technology currently has to offer. The result — a workspace that earned 94 of the 110 possible LEED-CI points, 14 more than the 80 required for Platinum certification — reflects a transforming building market and serves as a living lab, teaching visitors and employees alike the ways that green building is better for occupants, better for business, better for the community and better for the planet. To see the LEED-CI scoresheet for this space, go to www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6090.

The new office, located at 2101 L Street in the west end of the downtown Washington, D.C. business district, is a shining example of green design. The interior suite is located within a Class A building that is owned and managed by Vornado/Charles E. Smith. It was originally built in 1975 and underwent a significant refurbishment that was completed in November 2007. From the onset, it was critical that USGBC find a building and landlord who aligned with USGBC’s goals and organizational mission. Understanding that the best results in green design occur when green is worked into the process as early as possible, the brokerage team from CB Richard Ellis put this into action with a 20-point environmental assessment as part of the RFP process, helping USGBC evaluate building options by overall environmental performance and not on location and rental rate alone. As in any real estate decision, a number of factors influenced the ultimate decision, but the lease provisions — like being able to submeter energy use and pay directly — helped considerably by allowing USGBC to benefit directly from the operating savings of smart design decisions. Vornado/Charles E. Smith has also committed to LEED certification of the overall building project. The building meets all prerequisites such as baseline indoor air quality performance. The landlord also uses green cleaning practices, purchases renewable energy certificates for 50 percent of the building’s energy consumption and provides bicycle storage for tenants.

The interior space itself was designed to be sophisticated, timeless, flexible and simple. The design team comprised of Envision Design, GHT Limited and James G. Davis Construction designed and built an open floorplan that leverages the daylighting opportunity provided by a floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall on the south and east facades of the building. Low workstations and glass-enclosed interior offices provide exterior views for 97 percent of occupants, and a corridor of light carpeting lines the exterior corridors of the space, bringing daylight further into the space through reflection off the carpet and white furniture. The daylight harvesting in the space allows for a drastic reduction in artificial lighting needs, and the Convia lighting system provides not only very specific adjustments in lighting level based on need but also provides detailed measurement and a dashboard to track ongoing performance. Overall, 62 percent of the lighting load is connected to daylight-responsive controls. As designed, the lighting systems and controls put the space at 54 percent below lighting power allowance, according to ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007.

Many other strategies were utilized to achieve Platinum certification. Over 95 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill, and overall water use was reduced by 40 percent by using Sloan waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets in the restrooms and high-efficiency Bosch appliances in the kitchen. Furniture systems, ceiling tiles, flooring and other materials were selected for their high recycled content, location of manufacturing to reduce transportation impacts, and impact on indoor air quality. Products from USGBC member companies such as Haworth, Knoll, Mohawk and Armstrong showcase how far manufacturers have gotten in greening their products.

The project team created a workspace that fosters employees’ enthusiasm, promoting a healthy, productive, collaborative working environment. The flexibility in the space will allow for continued growth and, once again, USGBC is able to showcase the space as exemplary of everything a LEED building is: high-performing, resource-efficient, healthy and productive. Tours of the space are available upon request; e-mail hqtours@usgbc.org for more information.