High Performing Buildings - Winter 2009 - (Page 47)

Legacy B y R o y A B e R n At h y, A i A , A n d R A fA e l e . d i A z , A S S o c i At e A i A The Swedish construction giant Skanska has 25 offices in the United States. Its Atlanta office was founded in 1905 and has built much of the city’s skyline, including Centennial Olympic Park, Turner Field, the Georgia Dome and Coca-Cola’s headquarters. As Atlanta has grown, so has Skanska. The problem was that the office expanded arbitrarily to meet growing needs and requirements. Working on multiple floors in multiple buildings, the office lacked operational effectiveness and was devoid of the global environmental culture the company had worked so diligently to achieve for others. Today, Skanska’s high performing facility in Atlanta serves as a financial asset that builds brand identity, marketability and value. Located in one operationally efficient building, its employees are more productive working more proficiently and comfortably in substantially less space. With square footage diminishing from 85,000 square feet in multiple buildings to 41,000 square feet in one tactical location, real estate and operating expenses were dramatically reduced. Daniels/Busby (J/D/B), an Atlantabased architectural, interior design and planning firm. The guiding principles for the transition included: • Establish brand identity and transform Skanska’s image to reflect its progressive, international reputation; • Enhance the work environment and increase morale by creating a healthy, sustainable and flexible workplace to cultivate productivity and functionality; • Formulate an equity neutral transition from existing location to new optimum locale; • Exemplify Skanska’s commitment to sustainability as an integral part of their corporate culture; and • Demonstrate community leadership through initiatives to encourage and support sustainable work practices. B u i l d i n g At A g l A n c e Building name skanska usA Building – Atlanta office location 55 Allen Plaza, Atlanta size 41,000 square feet started september 2006 Completed september 2007 use Corporate office/300 employees Cost $1.6 m Building distinctions leed gold Building teAm owner Barry real estate Companies Broker C.B. richard ellis Architect Jova/daniels/Busby, inc., Atlanta, gA general Contractor skanska usA Building inc.—Kevin Bell, ryan marsh strategic Planning Team skanska usA Building inc.—robert Ward, roy Abernathy, AiA; John reyhan sustainability Team Pamela Cotera, leed AP Jimmy mitchell, leed AP , interior design Team rafael e. diaz, Associate AiA, Asid; rebecca dewey; Candice Huffman The authors were involved in the planning, design and implementation of the skanska project. The 21-stop green Tour team also included skydesign, Jackson spalding Public relations and skanska. going for ‘gold’ The transition to a high performing facility started with a comprehensive reassessment, relocation and reorganization plan developed through a partnership with Jova/ The LEED® certification program provided the framework for the transition. This included an early decision to locate in a redeveloped brownfield site, which earned one LEED point for the new space at 55 Allen Plaza in downtown Atlanta. The new site, also chosen to promote transportation alternatives, is strategically positioned close to a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) rail station. Winter 2009 HigH Performing Buildings 47

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of High Performing Buildings - Winter 2009

High Performing Buildings - Winter 2009
Contents
Commentary
OHSU Center for Health & Healing
Documenting Performance
Cook+Fox Architects Office
5 Houston Center
Skanska's Atlanta Office
Advertisers Index

High Performing Buildings - Winter 2009