Syngenta Seeds Earns “Green” Certification
March 26, 2010 The North American headquarters of Syngenta Seeds, Inc. has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System is the leading certification program for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings.
“At Syngenta Seeds, sustainability and the spirit of innovation are at the heart of all we do,” says David Morgan, president of Syngenta Seeds. “The LEED Gold certification of our new headquarters reflects our dedication to the environment and the community in which we work. More than 300 of our employees now call this building home and enjoy the many aspects of its sustainable design, such as nearby walking trails and natural lighting.” Syngenta Seeds occupied the three-story, 116,000 square-foot building located at 11055 Wayzata Blvd. in July 2009.
The Syngenta Seeds, Inc. North American headquarters was developed and designed by Opus Northwest L.L.C. and Opus Architects & Engineers in collaboration with architectural firm 20 Below Studio. It incorporates recommendations from Syngenta Seeds employees to make the facility comfortable and open while adhering to sustainable construction and design principles
The design, construction process and building materials used for the Syngenta Seeds headquarters employed a wide range of sustainability principles and elements. Examples include:
- The building is cited for optimal use of available daylight year round to reduce energy consumption and provide natural light for most employees’ work areas.
- A reflective membrane on the building’s roof helps reduce heat absorption.
- More than 25 percent of the building’s construction materials are made from recycled content and more than 30 percent came from within a 500-mile radius.
- Approximately 90 percent of the building’s structural steel is recycled.
- Floors and staircases use natural and renewable sources, such as bamboo and cork.
- Wall accents are made from Kirei board, an environmentally friendly alternative to wood that uses a Syngenta sorghum product.
- Floor tiles and carpeting are made from recycled materials.
- Locker room wall coverings are made from banana leaves, pears and potatoes.
- Upholstery fabrics throughout the building are made from rapidly renewable fibers such as wool, cotton, and bamboo.
- All wood used in the building is Forest Stewardship Council certified.
- Benches, slab tables ,and side tables in the building were made from trees previously growing on the site.
- High efficiency water, plumbing and filtration systems cut down on water use and provide purified drinking water (rather than bottled water) for employees.
- The flow of water through restroom faucets recharges the batteries that power the motion-activated faucets.
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