Sunday, 20 April 2008 | Levent OZLER
GGLO Walks the Talk in Environmental Stewardship
Self-designed Office Expansion Achieves LEED Silver Certification
GGLO walks the talk of environmental stewardship with their own office expansion, which recently achieved LEED Silver certification. The project added 7,300 square feet to GGLO's three-floor office located at Harbor Steps in downtown Seattle.
With an eye toward resourcefulness, the design team incorporated pre-existing, concrete structural elements into the new space, using them as features to define the layout of enclosed areas. Angled planes combine with exposed metal studs to create unique patterns and textures throughout the space. Exposed ceilings and low partitions allow for an open and collaborative working environment.
To the extent possible, materials such as workspaces and partitions were reused. Custom workstations can expand or contract to maximize flexibility and allow for staff modifications. When new materials were required, every effort was made to use local products with high recycled content.
With a shared commitment to sustainability, GGLO worked with commercial builders Rafn to construct the project. A focused waste reduction effort resulted in 83 percent of the demolition waste being recycled or salvaged, and 74 percent of the overall project construction waste. Items such as the original carpet were diverted from the landfill by selling to second-hand dealers for reuse.
The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the LEED for Commercial Interiors certification based on the project's "high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint."
GGLO is pleased to have meet its goals of providing a healthy and comfortable workplace, optimizing resources, and demonstrating leadership in sustainability and design for an adaptable aesthetic.
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