A fast-track construction process is underway to have the building ready for a mid-December occupancy. While the building may seem routine in its purpose and schedule, the SpawGlass corporate headquarters is the first LEED-certified or "green" commercial office building to be constructed in Houston.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is a rating system created by the United States Green Building Council. The building had to qualify in five areas in order to become LEED-certified. Those areas include water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor air quality.
The SpawGlass building, which was designed by Houston-based Kirksey, will include a white roof for reflectivity, the use of natural light to reduce energy costs and the use of low-E glass to reduce heat gain, glare and energy loss.
"Initially, we thought a green building would be cost prohibitive and require drastic operational changes," says Amer Al-Nahhas, project manager and vice president at SpawGlass project. "It wasn't until Kirksey approached us with practical green design methods, proving it was financially feasible, that we considered building green a viable solution for SpawGlass."
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