Liberty Tower, LLC And Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel earned LEED Gold Certification and celebrated at a ceremony Thursday evening.
Two Chattanooga businesses are now part of Tennessee history. Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. is the only law office in the state to have earned LEED Gold certification for its commercial interiors, according to a public directory of projects. Additionally, Liberty Tower, LLC is now the largest LEED v2009 Gold certified core and shell project in Tennessee at nearly 214,000 square feet.
When Chambliss moved its law offices to Liberty Tower in 2012, both businesses were aspiring to obtain LEED certification. Liberty Tower received its certification for its core and shell development in December 2014, and Chambliss’ office space was certified for its commercial interiors in March. This is the only project to achieve dual LEED certification in Chattanooga.
“This joint venture between Chambliss and Liberty Tower established an efficient, productive and healthy office environment, benefiting our clients, our employees and our community,” said Dana Perry, shareholder at Chambliss law firm. “LEED certification is a winner from all angles: it helps Chambliss be a good corporate citizen and steward of the environment, and our offices are less costly to operate and maintain than before.”
The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the most popular green building rating system in the world and a widely recognized voice on sustainability and excellence in building design and construction. LEED has been designed for use by businesses, organizations and homeowners, and LEED certification helps verify that a business has optimal environmental and health-centered designs.
“It’s a gratifying moment when you see hard work and dedication create a gorgeous structure that both meets the needs of our tenants as well as encourages green living,” said Steve Hunt, managing partner of Berry & Hunt, which leases Liberty Tower. “Environmental consciousness is at the heart of Chattanooga, and we are thrilled to contribute to the green efforts our city champions.”
Chambliss and Liberty Tower were both awarded LEED Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED certified projects are proven to operate more efficiently, and therefore cost less to operate, said officials.
“This dual LEED Gold certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. and Liberty Tower, LLC serve as prime examples of just how much we can accomplish.”
Throughout Chambliss’ offices, motion sensor lighting controls improve energy efficiency and reduce the cooling load on the building’s mechanical system. Glass interior walls reduce the need for interior lighting by making optimum use of daylight. The office relies on Energy Star rated products and Green Power. Chambliss selected paints, wallpaper adhesives and carpet tiles that are low in volatile organic compounds, which contribute to smog and air pollution.
Liberty Tower management replaced light fixtures with units that use less electricity and produce less heat. Bike racks and shower facilities on the property also promote a healthy lifestyle for employees by encouraging them to bike, walk or run during lunch breaks and before or after business hours. The efficient mechanical equipment, lighting, plumbing fixtures and window systems all contributed to the attainment of LEED Gold certification.
LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 69,800 commercial projects are participating in the green building rating system to date, comprising at least 13.2 billion commercial square feet in all 50 states and more than 150 countries and territories.
Project highlights:
Liberty Tower, LLC
• New light fixtures contain LED technology or electronic ballasts with T-8 or T-5 lamps, reducing energy consumption by 50-80 percent
• Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce water use by at least 30 percent
• Modern chillers, air-handlers, cooling towers and motors with variable speed drives are energy efficient and sustainable
• Steel studs for walls and partitions are made of 100 percent recycled content
• Nearly 40,000 square feet of window space fitted with solar control, low-emissivity glass improves solar and thermal performance
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
• 79 percent of Chambliss’ office equipment is Energy Star rated
• 50 percent of construction waste was diverted from area landfills and was either reused, repurposed or recycled
• Low VOC paints, wallpaper adhesives and carpet tiles reduce pollutants in the workspace
• Open Office layout optimizes “daylighting” in conference rooms and workspaces, reducing the need for interior lighting
• Electricity to each office floor is metered separately, allowing Chambliss to better monitor and control its energy consumption based on monthly invoices
• Chambliss reduced its office footprint by 9 percent largely by reducing its reliance on paper and embracing electronic storage of files and library materials
• Reused 60 percent of furniture and furnishings when it moved to Liberty Tower
From left, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, Chattanooga City Mayor Andy Berke, Marshall Berry of Jim Berry Company, Dana Perry of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, Steve Hunt of Berry & Hunt, Green|Spaces Executive Director Michael Walton and Ronnie Williams of Jim Berry Company.