Clark Nexsen's New Office LEED Certified

Clark Nexsen's Roanoke lobby.^

Main work area at the renovated Clark Nexsen.^

The office renovation at Clark Nexsen, an architecture, engineering, interior design, planning, and landscape architecture firm in Roanoke has earned LEED-CI Certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The project combined the existing Clark Nexsen office with two adjacent office suites, creating a single space for the growing Roanoke office. Up-fitting space in a 1970’s-era high-rise posed several challenges, including working with dated HVAC and electrical systems. To achieve LEED Certification the project team used several design strategies to be energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

Strategies included specifying energy efficient light fixtures, providing individual task lamps at each workstation, maximizing the available natural daylight, and providing views to the outside from every workstation. EnergyStar rated appliances and office equipment where used whenever possible.

To assure high indoor air quality, the team used low-VOC construction materials including: no-VOC paints and adhesives, no added urea-formaldehyde wood products, and low-VOC carpet. The new furniture systems are cradle-to-cradle GREENGUARD certified.

To reduce the use of virgin materials in the construction of the project, the team specified recycled carpet tiles and other products with high recycled materials content. The lobby floor is a rapidly renewable bamboo product and the kitchen and support area floors are made of bio-based linoleum.

Of the many sustainable strategies, maintaining the location of the office in the heart of downtown Roanoke, was the most popular and fruitful. Its location provides ready access to public transportation and abundant amenities within easy walking distance.

Lora J. Katz is director of architecture for Clark Nexsen’s Roanoke office. Benjamin F. McCreary Nicole G. Hall were the leaders of the design team.