Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed’s LEED Platinum Headquarters is a sustainable workplace that maximizes the comfort and health of employees through the use of a wide range of the company’s building materials that improve air quality, moisture management, acoustics, energy efficiency, thermal management and ergonomics. The usage of more than 50 products from its portfolio has created a “living laboratory,” where the company’s research team can measure the benefits that its products provide to the real workplace.

LEED certification of the Saint-Gobain & CertainTeed North American Headquarters was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the surrounding environment and building complex itself that employees now call home. These features include:

Sustainable Sites
In an effort to significantly reduce the number of miles employees travel to and from the campus as well as improve the environment, the company is providing bicycle storage facilities, electric vehicle charging stations and preferred parking for low-emission / fuel-efficient vehicles and carpools. In addition, a free shuttle service to and from the nearby Paoli Station, which services Amtrak and SEPTA trains, is available for employees who choose to commute from Center City, Philadelphia and other surrounding areas.

Water Efficiency
Select landscape areas at the main entrance are irrigated. The irrigation system and the water feature utilize harvested rainwater, thereby reducing potable water use by 100 percent. Rainwater is collected from a 7,000 square foot roof area and stored in a 25,000 gallon cistern onsite. High efficiency plumbing fixtures reduce potable water demands by more than 40 percent, estimated to save over 640,000 gallons of water per year.

Energy & Atmosphere
One of the main priorities of the project was to achieve superior energy savings. Through 3D computer simulation energy modeling, the building anticipates 30 percent energy cost savings when compared to a typical code-compliant office building. Minimizing external loads is achieved through improved roof and wall performance, along with the electronically tintable dynamic glazing SageGlass. Daylight sensors are located along the perimeter of the building to measure incoming daylight levels and modulate the glass transmittance according to interior needs. SageGlass provides beneficial daylighting and views to the exterior, while reducing uncomfortable glare and solar heat gain. Minimizing internal loads is achieved through the specification of energy efficient LED lighting throughout, as well as Energy Star equipment and appliances throughout the facility. Overall lighting power density is reduced over 40 percent below ASHRAE requirements.

Materials & Resources
The former building infrastructure was demolished to the structural system and reused in the new design. Approximately 90 percent of the construction and demolition waste was diverted from landfill disposal. Materials were carefully selected for their environmental and human health attributes. Saint-Gobain’s array of product offerings contributed to LEED verified.

Indoor Environmental Quality
The interior includes low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting building materials, carpeting and furniture for a safe, healthy working environment. All paints and varnishes used in the building renovation were also required to have low VOC content. This contributed to a healthy indoor air quality, further enhanced by the installation of partitions that feature CertainTeed’s Air Renew® gypsum wallboard, that absorbs formaldehyde from the air and converts it to a safe, inert compound.

Innovation in Design
Saint-Gobain has also implemented a green housekeeping program that utilizes environmentally friendly cleaning materials and equipment that help to sustain the high level of interior air quality on a daily basis. Additionally, Saint-Gobain also created an education program for employees and guests to share its journey and lessons learned in pursuing sustainability at the new headquarters.