Courtesy Kimball Office

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Paula Schmidt, Director of Market Communications for Kimball Office to discuss the company’s new 5,700 square foot, LEED-CI Silver certified showroom in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, as well as Kimball’s impressive overall stance on sustainability.

LB:    What factors, primarily, drove Kimball’s decision to pursue LEED certification?

KO:    At Kimball Office, it’s our nature to take initiative to not only reduce waste, but to conserve energy and be a truly self-sustaining company, to develop real solutions, to commit fully and lead by example, and to sustain our environment.  Since our beginning, sustainability has been a passionate pursuit. We are proud of our stewardship and are committed to continued sustainable business practices.  Our strategic approach to sustainability is based on People, Product and Process.   With People, we ensure that sustainability is a clearly stated Kimball Office value, we provide training and education, participate in industry and government programs, and look for continued ways of giving back to the communities we live and work in.   We design new products using the Design for the Environment (DfE) protocol, maintain the highest level of performance attributes for indoor air quality, and provide numerous wood products with Forest Stewardship Council Certified materials.    From a process perspective all Kimball Office manufacturing facilities are ISO 140001 certified, we embrace lean manufacturing practices, and develop sustainability strategies and incentives with our supply chain partners.  Additionally we build all facilities and perform renovations using LEED protocol.  So it was only natural for us to design our Atlanta showroom with LEED-CI standards in mind.  It also provides the opportunity  for us to walk the talk in gaining a true understanding and appreciation for what many of our customers are experiencing as part of their sustainability journey and commitment.

LB:    What are the most notable ‘green’ features of Kimball’s Atlanta showroom?

KO:    Our Atlanta showroom is a place for customers to experience Kimball Office and see how affordable it can be to create workspaces that are functional, attractive and friendly both to the environment and their employees.  To meet LEED-CI’s rigorous standards we implemented several strategies, which included:

Diverting more than 50 percent of onsite construction waste from landfills;

Specifying locally manufactured, recycled and rapidly renewable materials;

Using green housekeeping service and products; and

Sharing the project as part of an educational program to give clients insight to sustainable building design and environmentally friendly products.

Making daylight and window views available to more than 90 percent of occupants;

Minimizing or eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in materials specified for paints, adhesives, carpets and composite wood materials;

Using Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood where possible in the architectural wood elements;

Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures to increase water efficiency; and

Employing multiple measures to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

LB:    How was your overall experience with the USGBC?

KO:    Kimball Office is a member of the USGBC and operates several LEED-certified facilities, including our New York, Chicago and Jasper showrooms, along with the corporate headquarters and Research & Development team rooms.  Our San Francisco showroom is an applicant for LEED certification as well.  Our overall experience with the USGBC during the certification of our Atlanta showroom, as well as other facilities, has been positive.  We have completed the necessary work up-front and followed the USGBC guidelines to minimize any challenges in the overall process.

LB:    Who were the members of the design and construction team?  Why were they chosen over their competitors?

KO:    We partnered with idea|span, one of Atlanta’s top 25 interior design firms, and H2 Ecodesign, as both companies were knowledgeable in the needs of the marketplace for the Atlanta area and were experienced in meeting LEED-CI guidelines for facilities.  Together they brought the necessary insights to the forefront and successfully put together a design and layout plan that effectively met our sustainability criteria.

LB:    What kind of feedback have you received from your customers and employees?  Any noticeable productivity benefits?

KO:    The response from visitors, customers, and our distribution partners has been overwhelming.  It’s more than just a showroom of the available Kimball Office solutions, it has become a work center for community groups and associations.  Our employees have also benefited from the updated collaboration areas, additional sunlight, and technology upgrades.

LB:    What other sustainability initiatives is Kimball following?  About which are you most excited?

KO:    Sustainability is a journey that is evolving daily so our efforts continue in full force.  Some of our current initiatives are focused on Life Cycle Assessment, CARB, Chemicals of Concern, Indoor Air Quality and supplier education and engagement as it takes a collective approach.

Additionally Kimball Office recently received level tm certification based on the BIFMA sustainability standard for our entire portfolio of products.  level is the sustainability standard and third-party certification program for the commercial furniture industry.  Taking into account a company’s social actions, energy usage, material composition and indoor air quality.  level addresses how a product is sustainable from a holistic perspective.  We are very excited about being one of the first organizations to implement the standard across our offering.

You can learn more at KimballOffice.com or follow @kimballoffice on Twitter. We would love to get some comments and feedback from people who have visited the showroom.