Aug 1 2013
With the cutting of ceremonial ribbons, TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation (NYSE: AMTD) associates today officially marked the opening of the company's new Omaha headquarters office tower. Built to stringent sustainability standards, the 12-story facility anchors a corporate campus of four buildings that is now the home for approximately 2,000 TD Ameritrade associates once located throughout the Omaha (Neb.) metropolitan area.
TD Ameritrade's new Corporate Headquarters in Omaha, Neb. Photo by Bob Ervin, www.ervinphoto.com
"Three years ago we broke ground, in the middle of our home town of Omaha, Nebraska, promising a better experience for our associates," said Fred Tomczyk, TD Ameritrade president and chief executive officer. "And today we have a facility that blends the technology, sustainable design and amenities that today's professionals are looking for. We have a first-rate working environment that will attract and retain top talent and make us a more productive, innovative and collaborative company, and we are grateful to the city of Omaha and our many other partners that helped make it happen."
The new tower encompasses 530,000 square feet and capacity for approximately 1,800 Associates. It also makes use of the latest technology and construction techniques to use 50 percent less energy than buildings of similar size and age. Additional sustainability features include:
- 5,000 lighting control sensors to harvest daylight
- 4 wind turbines to power parking structure lighting; capacity for 20 more
- Glass "frit" lamination between exterior glass panels to filter sunlight and reduce heat inside the building
- Rain water harvesting to flush toilets and irrigate site
- Solar thermal arrays to heat hot water and preheat boiler water
- 3 redundant generators with capacity to power building for 3 days
- 50% of building materials made from recycled materials
- 5 electric car charging stations and priority parking for low-emission vehicles
- A "green" pavilion roof with vegetation and meeting space
- Bike lockers for pedaling commuters
- 50 percent more green space than required by local zoning
Over the last five years TD Ameritrade has increased its efforts to be a more environmentally-conscious company, utilizing sustainable design when it can to improve the efficiency of its facilities across the United States and to reduce its carbon footprint. Today, approximately 20 percent of the company's facilities are LEED® certified or pending certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The new office tower is on-track to achieve LEED® Platinum Certification, the highest level available. If successful it will be the ninth largest new construction Platinum building in the country.
"Community involvement is an important part of our culture at TD Ameritrade," Tomczyk continued. "Each year our associates give in excess of 20,000 hours of volunteer time in the communities where we live and work, but we can't stop there. We want to be a good corporate citizen, and that means we must also be more mindful of the resources we use to run our business. Employing sustainable design when we can is helping us become a better company, which benefits our clients, our associates and our shareholders."
Special amenities for TD Ameritrade associates in the new tower include a full-service cafeteria, fitness center, game room, wellness rooms, training and development center, outdoor full-court basketball and sand volleyball areas and adjacent access to 10 miles of walking and biking trails.
In addition to Tomczyk, associates taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony were joined by Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha Chamber President David Brown and other dignitaries and guests.