Simmons Law Firm's national headquarters building receives LEED
The national headquarters building of Simmons Law Firm in the Middletown Historic District in Alton, Illinois, US has bagged LEED certification.
The '70s building, formerly home to the Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, was purchased by Simmons in a bid to consolidate all its regional offices and employees. The five-level facility encompasses 68,000 square feet and has undergone upgrades to incorporate the green features. The project was executed by Vertegy, in association with Swansea, Illinois-based Holland Construction and Glen Carbon, Illinois' Hurford Architects, Incorporation. The renovated building features 70 offices, 130 workspaces, six meeting rooms, and an auditorium.
The revamped building has been equipped with a light-hued highly reflective roofing material and a green roof, which serve as a heat repellent. It also features a large number of windows which maximise passage of natural light, hence reaping energy cost cuts. The kitchen and employee break rooms of the building now consist of low-flow faucets while its restrooms comprise flush and flow fixtures to reduce water consumption.
The building has made use of an energy-saving glass to maximize efficiency and cut down glare from expansive views. Use of no/low-emitting VOC policy and a Construction Indoor Air Quality Management programme during construction further contributes to its sustainability. Among other green features include presence of reclaimed content in various materials installed in the building such as steel, concrete, roofing membrane, masonry and tiles, as well as preferred parking spaces for low-emitting/fuel-efficient and carpool vehicles.
