TruexCullins is proud to announce that the Seventh Generation headquarters in Burlington, Vermont has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council.  The project included a major renovation of their Burlington workspace, an expansion of their on-site R&D Lab, and a transition to a fully Agile work environment.

Seventh Generation is an industry leader in the development of plant-based home and body care products, so, naturally, health and well-being are high priorities for the company, and these were central to the design of the project as well.

The 36,000 square foot workspace was reconfigured to provide greater flexibility and autonomy for employees, accommodating projected growth over the next 5 years.  The renovation aligns the workplace experience with the company’s social mission and brand values.

One of the defining characteristics of the space is its use of biophilic design, the practice of connecting people to nature by evoking or integrating natural systems. The entry lobby features a custom reception desk built from selectively harvested tap hole maple from an 8th generation family farm in central Vermont.  From there, visitors step into the central atrium, which was opened to adjacent spaces, improving circulation and bringing natural light into the workspace. Organically shaped glass pendants fill the space, falling like raindrops across four floors. Throughout the workspace, interior greenery is incorporated into custom furnishings and product display walls, contributing to improved air quality and acoustics, and is a symbol of the company’s commitment to bio-based products.

Other key sustainability features that contributed to the project’s LEED Gold rating include:

• An extensive LED lighting retrofit, with daylight controls and occupancy sensors installed throughout. An off-site photovoltaic solar array provides for approximately one third of the total power load for the project.
• Water use reduction of 45% below a standard code-compliant office space.
• 92% of demolition and construction waste was recycled or diverted from the landfill.
• High indoor air quality was achieved by using low-emitting materials, increased ventilation and filtration, and recurring indoor air quality testing. A Green Cleaning Policy reduces chemical, biological and particulate contaminants.

 

TruexCullins acted as the LEED coordinator and navigated the project through the rigorous requirements of version 4 of the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system.  Other collaborators included the general contractor Neagley & Chase, mechanical and electrical engineers LN Consulting, and commissioning agents Cx Associates.