May 28 2008
Hanesbrands Inc., a leading marketer of innerwear, outerwear and hosiery apparel, today announced that it has earned the U.S. Green Building Council's sustainability certification for its Bentonville, Ark., sales office.
The prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification is the first in Bentonville and the first for commercial interiors in Arkansas. Only 12 other buildings have earned LEED® designations in the state.
"We are excited to have the first LEED-certified office in Wal-Mart's hometown," said Hanesbrands Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Noll. "Hanesbrands and Wal-Mart have made significant commitments to environmental sustainability and running their businesses in a socially responsible manner, and we are proud to partner with our top customer in doing the right thing for the planet."
The 9,986-square-foot office, which opened in August 2007 to support Hanesbrands' business with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., features advanced lighting, heating and cooling systems, natural light for every workspace, energy-efficient appliances, and low-emission construction materials such as paint, adhesives, sealants, carpet, coatings and furniture.
The office is located inside Bentonville Plaza, an existing nine-story building within walking distance of Wal-Mart's home office. To accommodate Hanesbrands' goal, Bentonville Plaza incorporated a rigorous recycling program, green janitorial cleaning products, bike racks and showers for fuel-free commuting, and an exterior smoking zone that conforms to U.S. Green Building Council guidelines.
LEED for Commercial Interiors is the tenant-improvement category of the U.S. Green Building Council's nationally accepted LEED Green Building Rating System. The category honors tenants without whole-building control who follow rigorous sustainability guidelines to design or improve their interior space.
The newly-certified office was designed by Harrison French & Associates, Ltd., a Bentonville-based architectural and engineering firm responsible for recent sustainable design projects at Wal-Mart's headquarters campus and remodeling existing Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs across the U.S.
"We are thrilled to have designed Arkansas' first commercial interior office that meets LEED design standards for Hanesbrands," said Larry Lott, AIA, LEED AP and vice president of Harrison French & Associates. "More than 25 percent of the building materials were produced from recycled content, and less than 8 percent of construction waste was taken to a landfill."
Hanesbrands leased the unfinished office space in April 2007 and committed to construct the interior to strict LEED specifications. Construction was completed in August 2007. The LEED-certification process took seven months and required a third-party commissioning agent to verify the achievement of U.S. Green Building Council standards, including the performance of lighting and ventilation systems.
Hanesbrands incorporates LEED-based practices into many remodeling and new construction projects for its facilities around the world. The company plans to apply for LEED certification on several upcoming projects, including its flagship retail store under construction in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Hanesbrands' Bentonville office can accommodate up to 24 employees. Hanesbrands also employs approximately 400 people at its Clarksville, Ark.-based sheer hosiery facility.