by Brianna Crandall — August 13, 2014—A year after investment services provider TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation officially opened the doors of its new green corporate headquarters, the building’s many sustainable features have earned the facility Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification, the highest level of distinction awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Constructed with the latest in energy-efficient technology and a unique design to provide a more environmentally friendly workplace, the headquarters earned 85 points in the LEED evaluation, five more than required for Platinum status. The 530,000-square-foot facility is reportedly the largest new construction Platinum-certified building in the state of Nebraska and the ninth largest new construction Platinum building in the United States.
Since 2008, TD Ameritrade has targeted LEED certification for company locations undergoing renovation or new construction. To this point, approximately 25 percent of its retail and corporate office locations have achieved some level of distinction, but none at the Platinum level until now.
Says Karen Ganzlin, TD Ameritrade’s chief human resources officer, “We are always working on proactive initiatives to build or enhance a better employee experience and create a highly engaged work environment, and this includes the physical workplace and value added amenities. Ultimately this translates into better service for our clients. Pursuing and earning LEED Platinum certification was a purposeful investment in our employees’ work experience, an investment in our clients and a pure investment in our environmental future.”
The sustainable features contributing to the facility’s Platinum recognition include:
- 5,000 lighting control sensors to harvest daylight
- 4 wind turbines to power parking structure lighting; capacity for 20 more
- Glass “frit” lamination between exterior glass panels to filter sunlight and reduce heat inside the building
- Rain water harvesting to flush toilets and irrigate site
- Solar thermal arrays to heat hot water and preheat boiler water
- 3 redundant generators with capacity to power building for 3 days
- 50% of building materials made from recycled materials
- 5 electric car charging stations and priority parking for low-emission vehicles
- A “green” pavilion roof with vegetation and meeting space
- Bike lockers for pedaling commuters
- 50 percent more green space than required by local zoning
TD Ameritrade says it plans to continue becoming more environmentally conscious and to reduce its carbon footprint. In the company’s continued effort to improve the facility’s efficiency, the company is also considering additional certifications, including an Energy Star rating.
