by AF 0607e5 — June 12, 2009—KSS Architects is designing a new 250,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and distribution center for Empire Merchants North in the town of Coxsackie, New York. Upon completion, the $27.5 million project will strive to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Edmund Klimek, AIA, partner at KSS Architects, said the project represents a growing trend in the commercial real estate market.
“This project works to be green in every respect,” Klimek said. “We designed the building to be environmentally sensitive and worked closely with Greene County representatives to create an architecture that fits well with its environment, using stonework and material that is found locally. Similarly, Empire Merchants North is applying sustainable principles to their logistics systems by incorporating equipment such as energy-efficient conveyers and motors.”
Empire Merchants North, one of New York’s largest distributors of wine and distilled beverages, wanted to build a state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and distribution center in upstate New York to improve accessibility and distribution logistics.
The building’s sustainable features include construction materials with a high percentage of recycled content, such as steel and concrete, and materials that are manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the project. Compared to a conventional facility of equivalent size and use, the building will use 25 percent less energy. Highly efficient toilet fixtures will save an estimated 140,000 gallons of potable water per year. The site landscaping will further reduce water usage because it requires no irrigation beyond rainwater.
The building will have a white roof to minimize heat island effect. Empire has also decided to reinforce the roof structure to allow for the potential installation of solar panels in the future. Hybrid vehicles and carpools will be given preferred parking spaces to encourage fuel-efficient transportation practices.
For more information, see the KSS Web site.
