SC Johnson's Fortaleza Hall Awarded LEED Gold Certification

RACINE, Wis., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SC Johnson's Fortaleza Hall in Racine, Wis. has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification in New Construction from the U.S. Green Building Council. The company designed and built Fortaleza Hall, which opened in January 2010, to provide a greener and more inspirational environment for its employees, their families and the greater community.

"Sustainability was a priority in building Fortaleza Hall, and we're extremely honored to announce this LEED Gold recognition as Fortaleza Hall begins its second year of operation," said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President – Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability. "Our employees and visitors from our local community and beyond have had an opportunity to experience and learn from the many green features – and the innovative design – of Fortaleza Hall."

Fortaleza Hall earned multiple credits in six categories in the certification process (Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design). The building was awarded all five possible Innovation and Design credits.

"While we're continuously working to green all our operations, Fortaleza Hall gave us the chance to design a sustainable structure from the ground up," said Semrau. "We're pleased that our SC Johnson family and visitors can enjoy this addition to our Racine, Wis. headquarters."

Green Features Incorporated into Fortaleza Hall

Building materials

• Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint, stains, varnishes, caulks.
• Kasota stone – this regionally-sourced natural stone is integrated into the architectural design of the structure. It comes from Mankato, Minn. – less than 500 miles away – which cuts down on transportation costs.
• Oculus glass/glazing – this serves to minimize the impact of solar radiation.
• Terrazzo flooring – Recycled materials such as glass and marble are used to create this flooring. The terrazzo is manufactured on-site, which minimizes post-commercial waste and transportation costs. By comparison, many of the marble and tile floors used today are manufactured overseas and imported.
• Bamboo flooring – Bamboo is one of the hardest natural materials available for wood flooring; it is a rapidly growing grass and can be harvested every five to seven years unlike the 15-100 years required to harvest other tree woods. This makes bamboo an environmentally-friendly product for flooring.
• Forest Stewardship Council wood – Polyconic mosaic map on the floor of Fortaleza Hall of the Western Hemisphere is made of end-grain certified Forest Stewardship Council wood which means it is wood harvested on a sustainable basis.
• Benches in Fortaleza Hall are made with U.S. black walnut, also harvested sustainably.

Building equipment

• Low waste appliances/systems – many appliances/systems are ENERGY STAR rated (Frymaster® gas fryers, Scotsman ice machine, Cleveland high efficiency convection steamers). The project also incorporates Meiko's AZP80 Waste Pulper, which allows SC Johnson's cafeteria to reduce its weekly kitchen waste disposal by 75 percent, from approximately 24 cubic yards to six cubic yards, or from 19,200 pounds of waste material down to 4,800 pounds.
• Water efficient fixtures installed throughout – includes Hansgrohe, Chroma showerheads (1.75 GPM, for a 30 percent water savings) for the employee fitness center, Hansgrohe, Talis S Electronic water faucets for lavatories (1.5 GPM), Zurn infrared low flush water closets (1.28 gpf) and Zurn high efficiency urinals (1/8 gpf).
• Four columns at the perimeter of the building function as rainwater returns – the rain water goes through the columns and into an underground cistern for landscape irrigation; also collected from The Commons, the portion of the facility that houses various employee services and amenities. This reduces use of potable water for landscaping the area surrounding the site by at least one-third.

Energy efficient features

• Energy efficient lighting installed throughout – lighting is controlled through the use of an energy management system, light and occupancy sensors.
• Exterior overhang at top of structure – serves to reduce solar gain in summer and increase it in winter when it is needed.
• A unique floor system called AIRFLOOR™ – saves energy by turning the finished floor into a radiant source of heating or cooling; Building Automation System helps control temperatures wherever people are present.
• Revolving doors and an underground tunnel system to improve energy efficiency.

Fortaleza Hall Background

Fortaleza Hall, which honors the late Sam Johnson, the fourth generation leader of the company and Chairman Emeritus, offers visitors a chance to learn more about the SC Johnson company through displays and memorabilia. It also serves as The Commons for SC Johnson employees and includes amenities like dining, concierge service, company store, bank and fitness center. It was designed by world-renowned, London-based Foster + Partners. More information about Fortaleza Hall is available at http://www.scjohnson.com/en/company/architecture.aspx

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and pest control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 125-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

About LEED / US Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program. The LEED green building certification program is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for buildings designed, constructed and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. www.usgbc.org

Media Contacts:
Jam Stewart, SC Johnson
[email protected] and (262) 260-6654

Megan DiSciullo, Edelman
[email protected] and (646) 642-7780

SOURCE SC Johnson