Community Updates

BASF North American headquarters receives LEED® double Platinum certification from USGBC

News Release October 24, 2012

For immediate release

Published 12 years ago | About a 6 minute read

News Release October 24, 2012 For immediate release BASF North American headquarters receives LEED® double Platinum certification from USGBC MORRISTOWN, NJ, & FLORHAM PARK, NJ, October 24, 2012 – BASF’s North American headquarters building has officially become the fifth construction project in the United States and the first in New Jersey to achieve LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) double Platinum certification. The 325,000 square foot building, developed in partnership with the Rockefeller Group Development Corporation at The Green at Florham Park, achieved LEED certification for Commercial Interiors (CI) and Core & Shell (CS) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The facility, which officially opened in May 2012, features many BASF-enabled construction solutions and is one of New Jersey’s largest sustainable projects. “Our headquarters building demonstrates BASF’s innovation power and its ability to drive sustainable solutions,” said Hans Engel, Chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation.” Platinum certification is the highest achievement attainable through the LEED green building certification program, which encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices. A suite of rating systems is used to recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance. “Very few projects have earned multiple platinum certifications for one building. In fact, only three sites on the west coast and one in Michigan have achieved this so far. BASF’s headquarters building in Florham Park is the first LEED double Platinum designated facility – and the largest LEED Platinum corporate project – in New Jersey,” said Florence Block, Director of USGBC New Jersey. “BASF embraces sustainable development as a core strategic guideline because it balances economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibility. This is consistent with USGBC’s mission: To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.” BASF’s North American headquarters building uses 35 BASF-enabled construction solutions to achieve its high-performance sustainability profile: • indoor water usage has been reduced by 40 percent using low-flow toilets, lavatory faucets, and shower heads, waterless urinals, and a rainwater harvesting system that reduces the need for potable water; • more than 40 percent of the site is open space; • about 75 percent of the office and meeting spaces are day lit and 90 percent have an outdoor view; • more than 20 percent of the materials purchased for the project had recycled content; and, • approximately 75 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills and incineration facilities. Additionally, the base building was designed to exceed the industry standard for energy performance, ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2004, by 24.5 percent. “Our new headquarters is a living demonstration of our innovations in sustainable construction and high-performance buildings,” said Engel. “It stands as a tangible example of how BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future while creating a healthy and safe work atmosphere where our employees can even better cooperate and collaborate.” The manner in which BASF and Rockefeller Group collaborated on the project exemplifies a key pillar of LEED Project Development known as Integrated Design. This is a process by which all the stakeholders of a project are brought together at the outset – from the owner, developer, architects, engineers, contractors, building code officials, planning board members, etc. This process is designed to achieve a complete and efficient building that meets all stakeholders’ expectations and goals. “We thank the USGBC-New Jersey, BASF, and all of our partners on the construction and leasing of the project, for helping us create a state-of-the art LEED Platinum building,” said Kevin R. Hackett, President and CEO of The Rockefeller Group. “We’re proud to embrace the new standards the USGBC and its New Jersey chapter helped set for the commercial real estate industry for sustainability and have made LEED certification an objective for our existing and new developments nationwide.” BASF Corporation and the Rockefeller Group received special recognition for their commitment to sustainability for BASF’s North American headquarters at USGBC New Jersey’s 10th Anniversary Gala & Awards Dinner on Oct. 11, 2012. Each year USGBC NJ recognizes and presents Gala Awards to companies and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in green building and sustainability. This year’s keynote speaker was environmental business leader and advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Special guests included two-time Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd. For a press photo, please click on the following link: http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/10-24-12_BASFHQ.jpg. Suggested caption: BASF Corporation’s new headquarters building has received LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) double Platinum certification. The 325,000 square foot building features many BASF-enabled construction solutions and is one of New Jersey’s largest sustainable buildings. About the U.S. Green Building Council USGBC is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group formed in 1993. New Jersey membership exceeds 1400 Corporations inclusive of USGBC National and the USGBC New Jersey Chapter. There are over 3,000 LEED® accredited professionals in NJ and over 400 LEED® registered and 100 certified projects in New Jersey, plus over 900 certified LEED Homes. More About the U.S. Green Building Council New Jersey Chapter USGBC NJ is a non-profit organization focused solely on advancing green building and sustainable communities. The mission of USGBC-NJ is to transform NJ’s built environment to become ecologically sustainable, profitable, and healthy. We accomplish our mission through education, advocacy, and collaboration. As New Jersey’s green building advocate and education resource, USGBC NJ provides over 150 educational programs, events, green building tours, research studies, and advocacy initiatives each year, through its three-branch, state-wide network. Currently, USGBC NJ is providing grant-funded green building education to NJ’s veterans and unemployed. For 10 years USGBC NJ has served as the meeting ground, catalyst, and propeller for sustainability-minded individuals in building-related professions. Through the NJ Chapter, LEED and green building in general, have found fertile ground in New Jersey. The New Jersey Chapter’s 1,100 individual members represent the entire spectrum of New Jersey’s green building community. BASF – The Chemical Company BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us. BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com. Media Inquiries: Medea Villeré Communications & Membership Coordinator USGBC NJ (973) 290-0013 [email protected] John C. Schmidt Manager, Corporate Media Relations BASF Corporation (973) 245-6405 [email protected]