First LEED v4 Building Certified in Beijing

BEIJING, China — The Haworth Inc. Showroom is the first LEED certification under the new LEED version 4 (LEED v4) beta program.

The space, located within Beijing’s LEED Platinum (version 3) Parkview Green building, has been named the world’s first LEED v4 project after the U.S. Green Building Council awarded the showroom LEED Gold status. The project earned 71 out of the possible 110 points.

“While LEED version 4 raises the bar on green building leadership and requires a new level of commitment to building sustainably, it was important for us to go beyond the prestigious LEED certification to ensure that we created a space that is not only environmentally friendly and open to the community, but a project that will stand as a model for future workspaces,” said Iolanda Meehan, director of strategic services for Haworth’s Asia Pacific sector, in a statement.

The company, which designs and manufactures furniture, partnered with Shanghai- and Hong Kong-based BEE Inc. for materials, trade and LEED consultation. To achieve the certification, 60 percent of non-structural interior elements were reused and 93 percent of the furniture used in the project was either GREENGUARD certified or had been previously used in a showroom, according to Meehan. The indoor air quality of the showroom also exceeds requirements by 35 percent and uses natural lighting throughout the space.

The project also concentrated on energy and water conservation to achieve LEED v4. Through a high-efficiency HVAC system and LED lighting design, fixtures and controls, the showroom’s energy consumption was reduced by 59 percent. Additionally, the greywater recycling system decreased the space’s water use by 53 percent. Located within the Fangcaodi neighborhood, the Parkview Green building already provides tenants with access to quality transportation and bicycle facilities.

Haworth purchased renewable energy credits for the showroom for the next five years.

“Haworth strongly believes that this type of adaptable workspace, coupled with activity and workstyle-based areas, is the way forward for corporations to maximize the efficiency of its real estate and the effectiveness and innovation of its people,” said Frank Rexach, vice president and general manager of Haworth’s Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America sector, in a statement.

The new version of LEED will launch at the Greenbuild International Conference in November.