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Monday, June 9, 2008

BBG-BBGM Moving To Empire State Building, Will Pursue LEED Silver

Designed to accommodate the firms’ need for more space, the move by the architectural and interior design firms BBG-BBGM will relocate their New York City headquarters to the iconic Empire State Building. Managing Partners Louis R. Hedgecock, AIA and Julia Monk, ASID, AIA made the announcement about the 15-year lease that has been signed. The firms are relocating from 515 Madison Ave., the New York office location since their founding in 1984, to a 32,000 square feet space on the entire 25th floor of the Empire State Building.

The firms are pursuing LEED Silver Certification in the Commercial Interiors category (LEED-CI). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings and interiors.

“As global design firms, this move is an important step in our long term strategy. We are pleased to provide our staff with an office environment that reflects our values of creativity, collaboration and commitment to sustainability,” Hedgecock said.

BBG-BBGM designed their new office space to reflect the firms’ culture, identity, commitment to sustainability, and work style. Designed to optimize natural light in a white and grey color scheme, the office features the Ahrend benching system, Humanscale ergonomic seating and desk lights, strategic use of reflective surfaces for maximum dispersal of natural light, and a partially exposed ceiling structure.

Some of the energy saving elements include lighting controls with daylight harvesting photo sensors; a daylight receptive window control system with automatic window shades and operable windows to provide ventilation; and energy efficient lighting, such as T5 high output fluorescent lamps with LEDs, to reduce the power required to 15% below ASHRAE standards. The bathroom fixtures use water and energy saving technology such as TOTO low flow and motion sensor toilets, automatic sink faucets and hand driers. Sub-metered Energy Star equipment and appliances control temperature, optimize energy performance, and measure the firms’ energy and water footprint.

Selected eco-friendly materials include low emitting VOC paints, adhesives, coatings, sealants, plastic laminates, and non-formaldehyde MDF panels; recycled content materials include certified wood floors, Interface carpet tiles and Ecophon fiberglass ceiling tiles and wall coverings; renewable materials include linoleum and substrates such as strawboard in custom millwork.

About BBG-BBGM
BBG-BBGM are internationally renowned, award winning architectural and interior design firms with extensive expertise in the design of mixed use complexes, luxury urban hotels, resorts, high end residential, retail, and corporate/office buildings. The firms have offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Scottsdale, AZ, Sydney, and Shanghai.

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