Haworth’s new headquarters in Holland, Michigan designed by Perkins+Will Architects deserves its sustainable architecture title. This long-standing manufacturer of office furniture is genuinely committed to sustainable business practices. Its rigorously environment-friendly new building has received a Gold LEED-NC rating, meeting all requirements in the five LEED categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Natural daylighting and greenery are an integral part of the building concept. They contribute to occupant - in this case employee - comfort and ensure energy savings. The wide expanse of roof uses 22,500 pre-planted LiveRoof modules. The 11 different plant species were farmed off-site with the result that the roof was truly operational from the outset without having to wait for plant growth as is the case for traditional green roofs planted only once installed. A green roof provides many advantages. It lowers roof surface temperature, retains storm-water and helps purify the surrounding atmosphere. As an insulator it lowers heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) costs, protects the underlying roof deck from UV radiation and weathering, and reduces heat dilation of roof components. A green roof is also a protected sanctuary for birds and insects, and a source of pleasure and sense of wellbeing for us humans. Last but not least, a green roof helps blend a building into its natural surrounds, creating a vital link between the built and natural world. The building’s large glazed façades also create a continuum between inside and out. As well as flooding the interior workstations with natural light, they provide wide views over the surrounding countryside. The open-space floorplan arranged on three decks overlooking a central entrance hall allows daylight to penetrate all office areas. The layout is one of untrammelled flexibility geared to providing pleasing workstations catering for individual demands that can be nonetheless adapted to different, not always predictable, work requirements. On each floor, permanent services are located along the rear wall. There are two types of work areas: “Dynamic zones” and “Temporal Zones”. Dynamic Zones are naturally lit, individual workstations with views over the exterior. Here the furniture system can be rearranged in the event of new requirements. Temporal Zones is the name given to shared working areas, such as conference rooms, the showroom, areas for team work and activities requiring uninterrupted concentration without being disturbed or disturbing others. Although less flexible, Temporal Zones have moveable walls and freestanding Haworth furniture to allow for some degree of reconfiguration on demand. The entrance hall, overlooked by projecting decks, has a huge, three-storey wooden-clad back wall. This enormous wood panel was developed together with Timeless Timber, a company specialized in salvaging timber lost in the Great Lakes and other north American rivers during the great logging boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It proves that the warmth and colour of natural wood can still be a part of sustainable building without felling a single tree. Haworth’s environmental conscience started well before the avant-garde project for its new headquarters. It was part of the Company’s mindset when a portion of the building was demolished to make way for the new. More than 99% of the materials from the former building were recycled. These include door and window handles and locks, fluids from lift-working systems, carpeting and furniture. When not re-used at the new site, materials were recycled at other companies or donated to schools or charity organizations. Concrete and glass waste went to manufacture bricks used in the new building.