HFA headquarters awarded LEED Gold certification

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — National A/E design firm, HFA, has been awarded a LEED CI Gold Certification for its 45,000-square-foot headquarters office in Bentonville.

Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design (LEED) is the nation’s premier program for design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. It is the recognized system for certifying green interiors that promote healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain, and have a reduced environmental footprint.

The design of HFA’s office began as a renovation project of a former National Home Center building in August 2012. The project’s construction started in July 2013 and was completed in December 2013. As a design firm, HFA now has the unique perspective of pursuing LEED certification from both a designer/constructor and owner perspective, as well as the experience of working in such a building post-completion. 

Key features of the building include:

• The space was designed using energy-efficient lighting and HVAC, water efficient fixtures and landscaping, as well as eco-friendly materials and furnishings.
• Careful equipment and appliance selection.
• HFA diverted 83 percent of construction waste by separating and recycling or reusing onsite.
• The addition of the south exterior windows achieved 1 point in the certification process, and also provides daylight and views of an adjacent park. 

Larry Lott, President & COO stated, “It has been a long road from the first day that we established one of our major design goals for our new office to be not only an attractive place to work, but to seek LEED Silver as well. It was fantastic to hear that we not only achieved our original goal of Silver (which requires 50 credits) but exceeded it to achieve 65 credits and Gold certification.  It’s a credit to our staff’s abilities to fully utilize their sustainable design creativity and expertise, resulting in a meaningful office environment for us to enjoy each day.”