by Ann Withanee — July 20, 2011—SAS’s newly opened Building C has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The building, located at the world headquarters of the leader in business analytics software and services, is the first in Wake County and fifth in North Carolina to receive this certification. Platinum is the highest level LEED certification.
With 19 percent of the energy in the United States consumed by commercial buildings (according to the U.S. Department of Energy), SAS committed to constructing an energy-efficient building that minimizes its impact on global resources. This building helps SAS reduce its ongoing need for resources and creates a healthy environment for its employees and visitors. This is just another example of SAS’s environmental stewardship, coming the same week as SAS celebrates its 35th anniversary.
SAS expects the building to use 50 percent less water and 40 percent less energy, compared to industry standards. It incorporates solar-generated hot water and electricity, a building cooling system that uses chillers during off-peak periods to cool floor slabs, and a one-acre green roof that filters and slows the rate of storm water runoff. In addition, the building has two 20,000 gallon cisterns that collect rainwater for use in bathrooms, a 655,000-gallon storm water retention pond, and eco-commuter parking spaces with additional spaces set aside for future use as electric car-charging stations.
Building C opened in March 2011 and comprises the Executive Briefing Center, an office tower for employees, and a gourmet market-concept food court and café. The Executive Briefing Center uses cutting-edge technologies to help customers learn about SAS software. As the second-largest building at SAS’ Cary headquarters, the building is 287,190 square feet and has 683 offices.
