Thornton Tomasetti’s LA office receives LEED-CI Gold certification

Los Angeles — Thornton Tomasetti announced that its Los Angeles office at 707 Wilshire Blvd. achieved LEED v2009 Commercial Interiors (CI) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED credits are awarded in seven categories, with a possible total of 110 points. The Los Angeles office project received 64 credits, making it eligible for Gold certification. Thornton Tomasetti acted as its own LEED consultant and commissioning agent, utilizing the expertise of its Sustainability practice and MEP team. The project architect was Koning Eizenberg Architecture of Santa Monica. The outside MEP consultant was Glumac of Los Angeles and the lighting designer was Oculus Light Studio of Culver City.

As part of the sustainability strategy, low-flow and low-flush plumbing fixtures were utilized, resulting in a 33 percent reduction in water use compared to the established baseline. The project also showed a 25 percent reduction in power use thanks to energy efficient lighting fixtures, occupancy sensors and daylight controls.

Materials used in the project were both environmentally and health conscious, with all adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, flooring systems and furniture low in volatile organic compounds. More than 75 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills.

The office is located in a LEED for Existing Buildings Platinum-certified building. Thornton Tomasetti was able to achieve 19 of 21 possible credits in the sustainable sites category due to the office’s central location and easy access to public transit.

The project was awarded all of the six possible points in the innovation and design category, which offers credits for creative strategies not addressed in the LEED rating system as well as for exceptional performance.

Los Angeles marks Thornton Tomasetti’s eighth LEED certified office project. The Kansas City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver and Washington, D.C. offices are also LEED Gold certified. The San Francisco office and an expansion project in Chicago earned the LEED Platinum rating. The firm’s corporate sustainability policy calls for all new offices and major renovations of 4,000 square feet or more to seek LEED CI certification at the gold level or higher.

“We are extremely pleased to achieve LEED Gold certification,” said Stephan Eisenreich, P.E., LEED AP, vice president and LA office firector. “Our firm is dedicated not only to talking the talk, but walking the walk when it comes to sustainability, and this certification is another milestone toward our company-wide goal of achieving LEED Gold or better at all of our offices worldwide. We are particularly proud of receiving all six available credits for innovation in design and our ability to cut water use by a third and power consumption by 25 percent.”