Business
The US Green Building Council Council’s LEED certification has been a sustainability standard in the design and construction industry for decades, providing performance-based measurements on the design, construction, maintenance and operation of commercial buildings. The more newly established WELL standard from the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) focuses solely on the building’s end-user and which factors affect people’s health and comfort. Together, they provide an inclusive framework for a more sustainable future. When Madison-based Strang Architects planned their move to a new office environment, they approached the tenant buildout guided by the principles of both WELL Building and LEED certification. Kraus-Anderson served as the construction manager for the 8,730-square-foot tenant improvement project, which achieved LEED Gold certification, also became the first WELL Gold Certified project in the state of Wisconsin. Strang Architects Director of Integrated Control Systems Katie Lowery, Senior Interior Designer Connie Nankee, and Kraus-Anderson Senior Project Manager Nate Yahn discuss the principles of sustainable design and the challenges that come with implementing them.