ROCKVILLE, MD.—Jonathan Nehmer + Associates (JN+A), an international hospitality Architecture and Project Management firm, and HVScompass, a global hospitality Interior Design firm, announced that their custom-designed corporate headquarters has been designated LEED Silver by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council).
The companies moved to 7361 Calhoun Place, Suite 310 in Rockville, Md., in July 2008. The firms’ staff designed the new 12,500-square-foot space. Some of the sustainable design elements and activities include:
• Savings in lighting power 35 percent below the required standard through high-efficiency light fixtures, without compromise to lighting integrity.
• Maximized energy performance in new mechanical systems.
• During construction, the contractor initiated an indoor air quality management program and coordinated waste management to reduce by 50 percent the amount of waste that went to landfills.
• Existing materials in the space such as ceiling grids, doors, and frames were reused.
• Products with recycled content were used for ceilings, cabinets, drywall, tile, and carpet. Many of these products were manufactured regionally as well, cutting down on transportation impact.
• A recycled glass product, EnviroGLAS , was used for countertops.
• Utilized rapidly renewable materials such as cork and bamboo for flooring.
• Ninety-five percent of the wood within the suite is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified. FSC forests replant what is used and are properly maintained for the environment and wildlife.
• Reused more than 80 percent of the previous office furniture and furnishings to avoid adding to landfills.
• Used low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, and glues to reduce harm to the installers and limit off-gassing.
• Incorporated occupancy sensors to monitor lighting.
• Reworked the current VAV (Variable Air Volume) system to ensure proper conditioning and ventilation into conference rooms and lunchroom, to maintain thermal compliance and comfort for personal well-being.
• Designed the office to allow regularly-occupied spaces to have daylight and views.
• Recycling program that includes bins for storage, collection, and separation of recyclables throughout the suite.
JN+A has actively embraced the LEED rating system by training employees for LEED accreditation. To date, more than half of the professional design staff have become LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP).
“We encourage our clients to explore sustainable design in their projects, and naturally, it was a priority for our new office to be environmentally friendly,” said Jonathan C. Nehmer, AIA, ISHC, president of JN+A and managing principal of HVScompass. “We are glad to be able to use our new office to showcase the talent of our designers while also setting an example for others to follow. Even during these tough economic times, we believe it is important to incorporate sustainable design in our projects wherever possible.”
In addition to their corporate headquarters, the companies also share offices in Boston and San Diego.
Go to JN+A and HVScompass.
