This article has been reprinted courtesy of GreenBiz.com
16 December 2005
The flagship showroom of Kimball International, Inc., a manufacturer of office furniture and durable electronics, has achieved Gold-level LEED-CI status for environmentally responsible design -- the first building in Indiana to earn that certification.
LEED-CI (which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Commercial Interiors) is the recognized standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce environmental footprint, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which awards the certification. LEED-CI offers four levels of certification: baseline certified, followed by silver, gold, and platinum certification, each level being predicated on specific design and environmental criteria.
The completely renovated 35,500 sq. ft. showroom highlights Kimball's rich history and houses the Company's individual furniture brand showrooms: Kimball Office, National, and Kimball Hospitality. In addition to the Gold-rated showroom, TVS Interiors is also working with Kimball on sustainable-design projects in Chicago and New York.
To meet LEED-CI's rigorous standards, Kimball and its design partner, TVS Interiors, implemented several innovative and creative strategies, including recycling 96.5% of the project's waste materials. Other sustainable strategies for the showroom involved:
Preservation of natural resources through the use of local, recycled and rapidly renewable materials
Optimization of occupants' well-being through the use of natural light and monitoring of thermal comfort
Minimization or elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in materials specified for paints, adhesives, carpets and composite wood materials
Utilization of Greenguard-certified furniture from Kimball Office and National, where appropriate
Lessening of the "heat island effect" by incorporating a white reflective roofing material
Reducing water consumption by incorporating low-flow plumbing
"We're extremely honored to have received this Gold certification and appreciate the assistance of the TVS design team in this area," said Dan Miller, Kimball International executive vice president. "Concern for our environment and 'leading by example' in the promotion of environmentally responsible business practices is central to Kimball's corporate philosophy."
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