LHB's on a roll

On the heels of LHB Inc. making Minneapolis /St. Paul Business Journal's top 25 architectural firms in Minnesota list, comes more news of note for the firm with offices in Duluth.

Already making a name for itself for its sustainable approaches, LHB recently worked on a project that got LEED certification. The hard-to-get rating recognizes projects that use less energy, water and natural resources, minimize environmental harm and create a healthy living environment.

When LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is awarded, it's usually for new construction. But in this case, it was the 37-year-old headquarters building of BASF Construction Chemicals in Shakopee, Minn.

LHB analyzed and recommended improvements to the 49,000-square-foot building's operations and maintenance systems that reduce long-term operating costs and improve quality of life.

"LHB showed us how LEED is not just for new buildings but can be used to improve the performance of existing buildings," Doug MacRae, a BASF spokesman said in a prepared statement.

As a result, BASF is helping the environment while saving tens of thousands of dollars every year, he said. 

It's only the third existing building in Minnesota to earn the silver LEED certification for operations and maintenance.

Posted by: Candace Renalls on 12/08/2009 at 6:14 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Tags: architecture, business, duluth, lhb, sustainability