April 2003

Washington, DC The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected Herman Miller MarketPlace as one of the world’s 10 best examples of architectural and “green” design solutions (by U.S. architects, 2002) that protect and enhance the environment.

The people who work at Herman Miller MarketPlace could celebrate Earth Day everyday. Abundant day light, fresh air and the gentle sound of water cascading over stones gathered from Lake Michigan illustrate the building’s environmental sensitivity. Built for an economical $89/SF and using 40% less energy than the typical building, MarketPlace is a national green role model. Located in a commercial development next to a McDonald’s restaurant, it demonstrates that green buildings can be woven successfully into the commercial landscape.

One of only two winning projects located in the Midwest, MarketPlace’s fellow winners range from a childcare center in California to a small recreation facility located on an island at the south shore of the Steinhude Sea, Hanover, Germany. The Jury selected projects that cover a broad spectrum of project types. Facilities include both new construction and renovation of office, retail, residential, academic, and institutional facilities.

Jury Comments: “Herman Miller Marketplace, a prefabricated system building, exhibits unusual interior flexibility while providing a significantly high level of amenity and indoor environmental quality including water and light, and the ability of the site to detain a 100-year storm event. This is a promising prototype for an economically viable, environmentally sensitive, and sustainable solution in the speculative office market.”

The selected projects address significant environmental challenges with designs that integrate architecture, technology, and natural systems. The top ten projects make a positive contribution to their community, improve comfort for building occupants, and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as: low-impact site development, energy and water conservation, use of “green” construction materials, and design that improves indoor air quality.

MarketPlace’s green recognition includes:
U. S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating – 2003. (Michigan’s first for new construction and one of less than a dozen nationwide.)

The AIA’s Committee on the Environment represents more than 5300 AIA members committed to making sustainable design integral to the practice of architecture. The sixth annual AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects initiative was developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Building News magazine.