LANCASTER, PA — Armstrong World Industries announced recently that its corporate headquarters building has been awarded LEED Platinum recertification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The Armstrong facility is the first building in Pennsylvania and among only 17 buildings globally to achieve recertification at the highest level possible under USGBC’s LEED-EBOM (Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance) program and the first in the country to earn a recertification credit for its superior acoustic environment.

Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

“Armstrong is committed to environmental sustainability,” says Armstrong CEO Matt Espe. “Achieving recertification for our headquarters building is a concrete manifestation of that commitment and demonstrates that we can significantly reduce our impact on the environment by modifying the way we operate and maintain our buildings.”

To attain its Platinum recertification, Armstrong corporate headquarters, also known as Building 701, adhered to strict standards in five categories, including Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Two additional categories, Innovation in Operations and Regional Priority Credits, provided opportunities to earn extra points.

Innovation in Operations Credit for Acoustics

When it was originally LEED Platinum certified in 2007, Building 701 became the first commercial building in the country to earn an Innovation credit for its superior acoustic design.

In 2013, Armstrong made improvements to raise the level of acoustic comfort in the open plan areas and was able to further reduce noise and improve speech privacy, resulting in a 29 percent increase in employee satisfaction.

In awarding the Platinum recertification, the LEED review team found that Building 701 has an acoustic environment that is “measurably superior to that commonly found in conventional buildings to reduce occupant stress and improve comfort and productivity,” making it the first Platinum recertified building to earn an Innovation in Operations Credit for Acoustics.

Other Environmental Initiatives

Other environmental initiatives at Building 701 that contributed to its Platinum recertification are:

Offsite, renewable wind energy supplies 100% of the building’s electrical power

Partner in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership

Energy Star® certification each year for six consecutive years

Reduced energy use at night with Daylight Housekeeping

Reduced lighting energy use to half the nationwide average for comparable office buildings

Reduced water usage by 45 percent with UPC and IPC-compliant plumbing fixtures and fittings

Recycles 63 percent of the building’s waste

Cleans with environmentally-responsible Green Seal certified cleaning products

Fifty percent of the occupants commute to work via alternative transportation, including walking, bicycles, carpools, public transportation, and fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicles

For more information on the Armstrong Building 701 LEED Platinum recertification, visit the USGBC LEED Scorecard.

About LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the foremost program for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. More than 58,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 10.7 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 140 countries.

About Armstrong

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of ceilings and floors. In 2013, Armstrong consolidated net sales from continuing operations totaled approximately $2.7 billion. Based in Lancaster, PA, Armstrong operates 35 plants in eight countries and has approximately 8,600 employees worldwide. For more information about Armstrong’s global commitment to corporate sustainability, visit Armstrong Corporate Sustainability.