Boulder Associates Architects’ Sacramento Office Achieves LEED-Gold Certification

Boulder Associates Architects remodeled a vacant building in Sacramento to function as both a living laboratory and a showcase for sustainable design.

Photo courtesy of Boulder Associates Architects

Boulder Associates Architects, a health-care and senior living design firm based in Boulder, recently announced the award of LEED-gold certification for its office in Sacramento.

The 7,500-sq-ft office, located in Midtown Sacramento, is designed to highlight Boulder Associates’ continuing commitment to sustainable design and practices. The long-vacant building was remodeled to function as both a living laboratory and a showcase for sustainable design.

The workspace is healthy, engaging and functionally efficient. “A high-quality workplace is important to an organization on so many different levels,” said Don Myers, Boulder Associates’ principal. “Aside from the environmental benefits, there are real savings in energy costs, and the effect on staff satisfaction and well-being is undeniable. It just makes for an awesome place to spend a working day.”

The reception desk is a prime example of how sustainable choices were made without compromising design and performance. It is made from Canopy Lifestyle’s Palouse product and Paperstone. The former is manufactured from rapidly renewable wheat straw fibers while the latter is composed of FSC-certified, post-consumer recycled paper and a phenolic resin from cashew nut shells. The result is a durable, sustainable, stylish piece ideal for the modern office space, Myers said.

The first floor bathroom features a shower equipped with the 1-gal.-per-min. Ecotech Enhance-O-Miser showerhead that utilizes 60% less water than a traditional showerhead. Water pressure is not sacrificed for this solution, ensuring that the quality of the shower is not diminished.This marks the second of Boulder Associates’ offices to have attained this recognition, following the lead of the firm’s Boulder office, which was the first project in the nation to receive LEED for Commercial Interiors v2 certification. A recent 3,400-sq-ft extension to the office was also awarded LEED-gold certification.