The company’s National Design Center in New York City recently received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Commercial Interiors (CI) category. The USGBC developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system to encourage the development of more sustainable buildings and interiors.
Overall, the 15,400-square-foot facility received 37 credit points from the USGBC, most notably for its water conservation, energy efficiency, and environmentally responsible materials. Herman Miller’s newly relocated National Design Center occupies the 17th floor of a midtown Manhattan tower at 1177 Avenue of the Americas.
“This project has tremendous synergy with the environmental initiatives occurring in New York,” said Rico Cedro, director of sustainable design for architects Krueck and Sexton. “Carbon dioxide emissions and water conservation are issues of regional, city, and state importance.We wanted the National Design Center (NDC) to demonstrate leadership in these areas.”
The facility features low-flow fixtures that reduce water use by 37%, and 100% of the electric power is obtained from certified renewable energy sources. “Indoor air quality is also an important issue,” Cedro added. “A typical American spends over 90% of his or her time indoors, and a large proportion of that time is spent at work. The New York NDC maximizes indoor air quality through its advanced HVAC system design, materials with low-emitting or zero-emitting VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and its Greenguard-certified Herman Miller seating and systems furniture.”
The space was designed to allow customers, architects, and designers to see and experience the array of choices offered by Herman Miller. It also houses Herman Miller’s New York sales team. “We want our customers to be inspired by this facility,” said Ray Kennedy, director of corporate merchandising, who oversees the development of Herman Miller’s National Design Centers. “Over 20% of the project’s material value is recycled content, and approximately 83% of the discarded construction material was recovered and recycled. We believe these steps underscore our ongoing commitment to sustainable design and environmental stewardship.”
The New York City National Design Center has been open in its new location since June 2006. It is the seventh Herman Miller National Design Center located in the U.S. and the third to receive LEED certification. The Washington, D.C., National Design Center received Gold certification in August 2005, and the Dallas National Design Center received Silver in March 2006.
