TobinDudleyStarr and Optima Engineering Recognized for Green Design and Building Practices
July 8, 2009
U.S. Green Building Council and Real Estate & Construction Review Bestow Awards on Optima’s Corporate Headquarters Project
CHARLOTTE, NC – July 8, 2009 – TobinDudleyStarr and its client Optima Engineering are receiving kudos from the green building industry for Optima’s new 14,000-square-foot headquarters in the South End district of Charlotte. The interior of the company’s headquarters, located on the top floor of a new LEED Core and Shell-certified office building, was designed by TobinDudleyStarr’s Interior Design Practice, led by Amy Johnson. The project recently achieved a Platinum-Level LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) certification, and has been recognized by two green building industry groups.
Earlier this spring, the Charlotte Business Journal, in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council Charlotte Region Chapter, recognized the office upfit with a Green Award in the Commercial Project category. More recently, the editorial advisory board of the Real Estate & Construction Review deemed the headquarters one of the best new green projects in the Southeast region, from more than 2,500 nominated projects.
TobinDudleyStarr created a strategic design for Optima Engineering that allows for future growth, while maintaining functional coherence and a positive, defined brand experience within the space. Modular workstations are strategically positioned throughout the space, creating large work areas for employees, and offering more storage options, as well as flexibility for growth.
Amy Johnson and her team from TobinDudleyStarr took complete charge of specifying all interior materials and designing our space to help us achieve our environmental leadership vision, says Keith Pehl, Optima Engineering President and Founder. We envisioned the building to be this way because we believe in green design, engineering and construction, and also because it’s just the right thing to do. Since we’ve completed the project and moved in, the marketability for the building has been unbelievable for us. Our clients and peers love to meet here and we’re proud to have them come here.
The use of sustainable materials is evident throughout the project. Bamboo flooring is installed in the reception area, corridors and break room. Ceiling tiles and carpet contain recycled content, as does all metal framing, drywall, aluminum windows and wood substrates. Other materials were sourced from manufacturers within a 500-mile radius.
Optima Engineering gave us the unique opportunity to manage a significant budget, design the space, and specify innovative green materials to make their space true to their intent, notes Amy Johnson, TobinDudleyStarr’s Interior Design Practice Leader.
