W&M Construction Completes Build-Out Designed to Earn LEED Certification for Citigroup Unit

February 10, 2009

STAMFORD, Conn. - W&M Construction has completed a 30,000-square-foot interior build-out intended to earn LEED certification for the offices of a management division of Citigroup at 200 First Stamford Place, according to Thomas P. Durels, chief executive officer of the construction company.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Citigroup's new space, designed by Stamford-based CPG Architects, incorporates many sustainable design elements that are integral in achieving LEED certification, including components that promote energy savings, recycling, renewable resources and sustainability.

Application for LEED certification is submitted in advance of construction, and certification occurs after project completion. Citi's application is now under final review pending USGBC approval.

"W&M Construction was instrumental in the entire LEED process," says Robert Tieni, senior architect at CPG, who also served as owner’s representative for Citigroup. "We were extremely impressed with them and with W&M Properties, and most grateful for their expertise, professionalism and level of cooperation. I would not hesitate to recommend them."

In building the space, W&M Construction put to work many techniques designed to maximize certification points, such as the use of locally manufactured materials - which reduces energy consumption required for transportation, and the use of products with a high component of recycled content, including gypsum board, metal studs and acoustical ceiling tile.

Another key element of the construction was a waste management program that reduced the amount of debris that would normally be sent to landfills by about 75 percent by instead redirecting the waste to recycling facilities for use in new products. Indoor air quality was monitored and managed during construction and prior to Citi's tenancy to significantly lower the amount of air borne contaminants, providing an improved workspace environment for the new occupants.

"Although both of these strategies are labor intensive, the client in this case decided that the environmental and health benefits to its employees were worth the investment," says Mr. Durels. "A healthy work environment does more than earn LEED credits - research conducted on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy shows that improved indoor air quality increases employee productivity, which in turn promotes better employee morale, which are tangible benefits in running any business."

The W&M Construction executive says the project team "brainstormed strategies for achieving the highest LEED rating possible, while making the costs feasible for Citigroup. The project was both challenging and highly rewarding, for the entire team."

Mr. Durels also points out that First Stamford Place itself offers several features which aid the tenant's ability to achieve LEED points without adding to the cost of a build-out, including:

  • Proximity to public transportation,
  • Covered and underground parking, which reduces the amount of paved surface and heat gain on a site,
  • Provision for bicycle racks and changing facilities for bicycle users,
  • No-smoking policy throughout the facility
  • Comprehensive recycling and green cleaning programs
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures, and
  • Occupancy sensors to control overhead lighting.

"There's no question that office buildings that already offer environmentally friendly features, which includes First Stamford Place and the entire W&M Properties portfolio, provides a significant advantage in attaining LEED certification," says Mr. Durels.

The U.S. Green Building Council is currently reviewing the project's LEED credentials, and the team anticipates the project will successfully achieve a LEED Certification.

With offices in Stamford and Norwalk, W&M Construction is a full-service General Contractor and Construction Manager. The firm specializes in commercial ground-up construction, interiors and building rehabilitation.