Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) announced the Cleveland 2030 District has named its North American headquarters building the overall winner of its Green Building Challenge.
The Cleveland 2030 District partners with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Ohio’s Northeast Local Leadership Team to host the annual challenge, created to recognize commendable new construction and renovation projects in Northeast Ohio.
Bendix said its sustainability journey has been at the forefront of the robust global efforts underway at its parent company, Munich, Germany-based Knorr-Bremse.
Applicants submit their project for one or more of the following categories: energy conservation/management, water conservation/management, transportation emissions reduction, and healthy buildings. Submissions in multiple categories are considered for the award of overall winner. Other organizations recognizing the winners include the Cleveland chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Bendix’s headquarters, which opened in November 2021, is “a light-filled gem of a structure set on a leafy-green, 58-acre campus in Avon, Ohio, just west of Cleveland,” the company said. It consists of a main building totaling more than 200,000 square feet and a free-standing, multi-bay commercial vehicle garage.
“We’re honored to achieve the Green Building Challenge distinction for our Avon headquarters,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix senior director, environmental, social, and governance (ESG). “This building is a transformative facility that works better for the environment, and just as important, for the Bendix team members who walk through its doors every day. It reflects Bendix’s long-standing sustainability strategy, supporting our goal to be a partner with our planet.”
Building Highlights:
Bendix integrated key LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) concepts throughout the design and planning process. In 2022, the facility earned LEED Silver v4 certification.
Bendix said it gave special attention to energy efficiency, integrating a comprehensive energy strategy in the design and operations of the facility. Throughout the process, the team used energy modeling as a design-assist tool – taking into account such factors as site conditions, massing, building envelope, lighting, thermal comfort and programming.
High-efficiency lighting, windows, insulation and HVAC equipment help reduce overall energy consumption in the building by over 18% compared to similar buildings.
Overall, 100% of the building’s energy use is offset by renewable energy certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets.
Bendix counted enhancing indoor air quality as another priority in the new building to promote employee comfort, well-being, and productivity. Strategies included efficient filtration, carbon dioxide sensors in all densely populated areas, and volatile organic compound (VOC) monitoring on each floor.
The Bendix project team also prioritized recycling – within the design of the building, on the construction site, and for building occupants. Building materials included 11% recycled content. The company reclaimed wood from trees felled on the site and transformed it into tables and other fixtures used in the building and elsewhere.
