ATLANTA, April 28,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation
(NYSE: NSC) today announced that its new corporate headquarters
building at 650 West Peachtree has been awarded LEED® Gold
certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is
the most widely used green building rating system in the world and
an international symbol of excellence. Gold certification was
awarded for the building's design and construction, which includes
sustainable site development, water conservation, energy
efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental
quality.
"Railroads are an essential part of a low-carbon supply chain,
so it was important for our headquarters to reflect that commitment
to sustainability," said Annie
Adams, Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation
Officer for Norfolk Southern. "Our headquarters was built with
advanced technology and sustainable features that create an
exceptional experience for our employees and attract the
world-class talent that exists in Atlanta."
The headquarters at 650 West Peachtree is one of the first LEED
Gold certified office buildings in Georgia. LEED-certified buildings are graded
on design, construction, and operations practices that improve
environmental and human health. Norfolk Southern earned 62 points
under the new LEED v4 standards, including all points for the Water
Efficiency category, which recognizes significant indoor and
outdoor water use reduction. The USGBC awarded the project with all
or the majority of points in the following categories:
- Water Efficiency: The rainwater captured through
the campus and rooftop is reclaimed for reuse, resulting in water
use reductions for irrigation by 100% and cooling tower demand by
~80% over a typical office building.
- Location and Transportation: The property is
surrounded by high-density development including a Walk Score of 90
"Walker's Paradise." In addition to walkability, it was
awarded top scores for access to quality transit and a reduced
parking footprint with ample electric vehicle charging
stations.
- Sustainable Sites: The building was designed to
maximize open space, rainwater management, and heat island
reduction using ground-level gardens and seven different rooftop
terraces throughout the campus.
- Innovation in Design: The building features
innovative design aspects directly linked to employee health and
wellness. These include easy access to open stairwells with
floor-to-ceiling glass walls and views of the city, adjustable,
ergonomic workstations, a state-of-the-art fitness center with a
large rooftop space, and more.
"Achieving LEED certification is more than just implementing
sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the
world a better place and influencing others to do better," said
Peter Templeton, President and CEO,
USGBC. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection
and the central role buildings play in that effort, Norfolk
Southern is creating a path forward through their LEED
certification."
Partners integral to the construction and design of the project
include: Cousins Properties, HITT Contracting, HKS, Inc., HOK,
Holder Construction, JLL, and Pickard
Chilton. To learn more about Norfolk Southern's ongoing
efforts to build a better planet, visit our sustainability
page.
About Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern
Corporation (NYSE: NSC) is one of the
nation's premier transportation companies, moving the goods and
materials that drive the U.S. economy. Norfolk Southern connects
customers to markets and communities to economic opportunity, with
safe, reliable, and sustainable shipping solutions. The
company's service area includes 22 states and the District of Columbia, every major container
port in the eastern United States,
and a majority of the U.S. population and manufacturing
base.
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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation