Skanska USA, a provider of construction management, preconstruction, and design-build services, moved its Philadelphia Metro office moved to a newly designed, highly energy-efficient space in Blue Bell, Pa.
The new 19,100-sf office was built by Skanska’s Special Projects Group and is expected to achieve LEED for Commercial Interiors Gold certification from the USGBC.
In keeping with Skanska’s commitment to being green, the new office features numerous innovative, environmentally-sound elements. For example, all counter tops, carpet tiles, and stone tile flooring contain 40% recycled content. In addition, Skanska utilized renewable materials for finishes, such as Lumicor accent panels (which are R4 recycled resins made from crushed recycled glass) throughout the office.
The office’s layout also allows for a natural daylight-based lighting scheme. Combined with the use of Energy Star-rated computers and appliances and new energy-efficient lighting throughout the office, the new space is expected to significantly reduce energy costs in the first year. The optimal design also provides Skanska’s employees with an open atmosphere, allowing for more collaboration, interaction and communication amongst coworkers.
The project was completed on schedule in just four months. The architect was KlingStubbins. +
Related Stories
| Mar 27, 2013
Small but mighty: Berkeley public library’s net-zero gem
The Building Team for Berkeley, Calif.’s new 9,500-sf West Branch library aims to achieve net-zero—and possibly net-positive—energy performance with the help of clever passive design techniques.
| Mar 27, 2013
RSMeans cost comparisons: college labs, classrooms, residence halls, student unions
Construction market analysts from RSMeans offer construction costs per square foot for four building types across 25 metro markets.
| Mar 26, 2013
Will Google Glass revolutionize the construction process?
An Australian architect is exploring the benefits of augmented reality in the design and construction process.
| Mar 24, 2013
World's tallest data center opens in New York
Sabey Data Center Properties last week celebrated the completion of the first phase of an adaptive reuse project that will transform the 32-story Verizon Building in Manhattan into a data center facility. When the project is completed, it will be the world's tallest data center.
| Mar 22, 2013
8 cool cultural projects in the works
A soaring opera center in Hong Kong and a multi-tower music center in Calgary are among the latest cultural projects.
| Mar 22, 2013
Earn $500 as a DOE proposal reviewer
The DOE'S Building Technologies Office this morning put out a call to the AEC industry for expert reviewers for its new energy-efficiency initiative for small commercial buildings, which make up more than 90% of the commercial building stock.
| Mar 21, 2013
Best Firms to Work For: Enermodal Engineering is green to the core
At Enermodal Engineering, there’s only one kind of building—a sustainable one.
| Mar 21, 2013
Are charter schools killing private schools?
A recent post on Atlantic Cities highlights research by the U.S. Census Bureau's Stephanie Ewert that shows a correlation between the growth of charter schools and the decline in private school enrollment.