by Brianna Crandall — February 6, 2017 — Leading by example, the American Society of Interior Designers’ (ASID) new corporate headquarters, opened in May 2016, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum level certification under the LEED Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) rating system — the highest-level recognition bestowed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED Platinum ID+C designation recognizes the commitment of ASID and design firm Perkins+Will to include the most advanced sustainable design practices across several areas of sustainability in the creation of this innovative workspace.
ASID CEO Randy Fiser stated:
We are immensely proud of the efforts of our project team that enabled ASID to achieve LEED Platinum. This accomplishment represents more than just the Society’s commitment to the planet, but also our investment in our members, employees, and human-centric design. When we began this project, our objective was to create a living laboratory that proves the positive impact design can have on the health and well-being of employees while maintaining resource efficiency. I can say with confidence that ASID has succeeded in creating an office space that embodies the highest standards of sustainability for the environment and our employees.
The headquarters houses 8,500 square feet of innovation supported by research that ties improvements in health and wellness with organizational metrics of engagement, retention, and productivity. Key design elements, such as the space’s real-time dashboard of environmental attributes, weave innovation, technology, and nature-based design together to create a space that conveys the core principles of LEED.
The office includes biophilic design strategies that utilize natural elements to reduce stress and increase air quality; stringent water quality standards; and a lighting system developed to expand efficiency by helping to regulate the body’s physiological processes, or circadian rhythms.
Ken Wilson, principal in Perkins+Will’s Washington, DC, office, commented:
The new ASID Headquarters is leading the way in creating a workplace that is both good for the environment and good for people. Sustainability and health are intertwined, and the design of this space focuses on attaining the highest levels of both.
As ASID continues to advance the interior design profession, the new corporate headquarters demonstrates the impact of design on the human experience. In addition to LEED Platinum ID+C certification, ASID has applied for and anticipates earning certification under the WELL Building Standard, administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
