<p>The Novus International headquarters has achieved LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED Platinum is the highest level of certification available for sustainable buildings with USGBC.<br /><br />&ldquo;The Novus International headquarters showcases many established and forward-thinking elements of sustainable design and construction. The facility highlights the company&rsquo;s level of commitment in developing a headquarters that offers a holistic point of view, one that considers the total, long-term environmental impact &ndash; from construction to day-to-day operation,&rdquo; said Paul Todd Merrill, P.E., LEED AP, director of sustainable construction for Clayco, contractor on the project.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;<br />Located in the Missouri Research Park in St. Charles, Mo., the $20 million project included renovation of Novus&rsquo; existing 42,000-square-foot building and a 48,000-square-foot addition, including two floors of office space, 10 research laboratories, a state-of-the-art employee and customer training center, a fitness center and a catering cafeteria.<br />&nbsp;</p>
<p>Novus is only the fourth commercial building in Missouri to achieve Platinum status and one of fewer than 100 commercial buildings in the U.S. to receive the honored designation. The headquarters features:</p>
<ul>
<li>an environmentally-focused framework including a 5,000-square-foot array of solar panels, currently the largest array in the state of Missouri;</li>
<li>creative use of recycled materials such as plastic detergent bottles &amp; post industrial aluminum waste; extensive use of rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo flooring &amp; doors; <br /></li>
<li>restoration of Missouri native and adaptive vegetation and landscaping that require zero irrigation, saving thousands of gallons of water each year;</li>
<li>high performance envelope and energy systems, including the use of a chilled water distribution system;</li>
<li>preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles;</li>
<li>a storm water system that will reduce the environmental impact of runoff and improve water quality to receiving rivers;</li>
<li>10% of the total materials were derived from salvaged materials; </li>
<li>and 30% of the total materials were made from recycled content. </li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;<br />Other sustainable efforts incorporated into the facility to promote and enhance the health and productivity of its employees include floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize the use of natural light while providing a direct connection to the surrounding environment, and include a new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient underfloor HVAC system that allows the temperature to be controlled individually at each work area.</p>
<p>Forum Studio&nbsp; was architect. Joining Clayco and Forum Studio on the project are Alper Audi, as structural engineer; Stock and Associates, as the civil engineer; and Loomis and Associates, as the landscape architect. <br />&nbsp;</p>