Nintendo of America’s commitment to sustaining a healthy environment reached an important milestone with certification for its new corporate headquarters in Redmond. Under guidelines established by the U.S. Green Building Council, Nintendo’s recently constructed Redmond headquarters building was awarded LEED Gold status, placing it among the nation’s top-rated buildings for sustainability and environmental friendliness. LEED certification indicates that a company has taken measurable steps to implement green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
Open since April 2010, Nintendo’s Redmond offices include numerous green-minded features that were highlighted as part of the LEED Gold certification. The complex itself was constructed using recycled and renewable building materials, and a 75,000-square-foot rooftop garden – known as a “living roof” – supports both energy efficiency and the shared enjoyment of outdoor space among employees. The use of native plants and drip-delivery irrigation minimize irrigation water use by 57 percent, while low-flow plumbing systems have reduced water consumption by 34.5 percent. On-site electric vehicle chargers promote use of renewable fuel sources.
“The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful places in the world and our goal is to keep it that way,” said Mike Nichols, Nintendo of America’s vice president of Real Estate & Facilities. “As a 30-year resident of the Redmond community, Nintendo is proud to have created a new home base that reflects our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship while reaffirming our status as a good corporate citizen.”
The rating process for LEED certification focuses on six specific areas of a building project: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design.
Designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, Nintendo’s headquarters building was constructed on a very aggressive schedule by Turner Construction Company over a 19-month period beginning in fall of 2008. The 300,000-square-foot facility includes 50 conference rooms, an outdoor amphitheater, a soccer field and sports courts. Turner made extensive use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and LEAN construction methods. The building currently houses more than 650 employees, including senior leadership for Nintendo of America.
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