Rather than developing on an undisturbed prairie in south Springfield, Environmental Works owner Robin Melton decided to take a more sustainable route to the relocation of her company headquarters. She chose to purchase a building in North Springfield, utilizing existing public infrastructure and bringing a breath of fresh air to an often overlooked part of town.
Although the purchase of an existing building was an environmentally friendly choice, the extensive amount of work needed to obtain LEED certification was determined economically unfeasible. Sustainability is always a focus in all projects regardless of the pursuit of LEED; thus, the design team maintained several key sustainable features that make the building more environmentally friendly.
High performance, tinted, insulated curtain-wall replaced the original dated look on the front of the building. Windows were cut into the front façade to bring natural daylight into private offices, and we reused the loading dock on the east side of the building as an exterior break room for employees. A new high-efficiency HVAC unit now serves both the offices and the warehouse behind. Reclaimed wood from the existing infill was utilized to make the sliding barn doors in the conference and break rooms.
Although the purchase of an existing building was an environmentally friendly choice, the extensive amount of work needed to obtain LEED certification was determined economically unfeasible. Sustainability is always a focus in all projects regardless of the pursuit of LEED; thus, the design team maintained several key sustainable features that make the building more environmentally friendly.
High performance, tinted, insulated curtain-wall replaced the original dated look on the front of the building. Windows were cut into the front façade to bring natural daylight into private offices, and we reused the loading dock on the east side of the building as an exterior break room for employees. A new high-efficiency HVAC unit now serves both the offices and the warehouse behind. Reclaimed wood from the existing infill was utilized to make the sliding barn doors in the conference and break rooms.
