KeyBank’s renovation of three floors in the historic Higbee Building on Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio has been awarded LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building features a number of sustainability features, from automated lighting and ventilation systems to a design that maintains the building’s historic charm.
“This renovation represents KeyBank’s commitment to strengthen our community’s core in the most environmentally responsible ways possible,” said Henry Meyer, KeyCorp CEO. “It enhances one of the most historic buildings in the heart of downtown, it leverages Tower City Center’s existing transportation hub and it allows hundreds of our employees to enjoy the growing sense of excitement connected to the area’s ongoing economic development. We’re very proud to have earned this recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council.”
The space provides standard offices as well as work areas where staff can temporarily touch down, plug in and meet. The renovated floors include “huddle rooms” and casual meeting areas with flat-screen TVs for online access and presentations.
Each of the three floors in Key’s renovated space includes a Café space, a “Main Street” with large murals of historic Higbee Department store scenes, and high-tech meeting spaces equipped with wireless technology for small or large groups to meet.
Some of the key sustainability features of the space include:
- Lighting controls, sensors, and task lighting reduce the need for overall ambient lighting in the space.
- Area thermostats allow individualized control of the HVAC system, reducing the need for controls in common areas.
- An automated power management system was installed which automatically turns off audio visual equipment when it is no longer in use.
KeyBank’s Higbee project joins a growing number of LEED certified projects in Northeast Ohio. The local chapter of the USGBC recognizes 62 certified projects in the region, including a Gold certification Forest City Enterprises earned for its restoration of the Higbee Building’s core and shell.
“KeyBank is pleased to join a growing number of sustainable building and restoration efforts in Northeast Ohio,” Meyer said. “We are committed to the ongoing improvement of Northeast Ohio’s economy and quality of life.”
Photos courtesy of KeyBank.
