NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS – April 16, 2021 — With the assistance of Arkansas-based sustainability and energy services company, Entegrity, Safe Foods in North Little Rock, Arkansas has turned a renovated warehouse into a larger, more sustainable headquarters and processing facility to house all Safe Foods teams under one roof. The project was awarded LEED Silver level of certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building program.
Completed in 2019, the Safe Foods Headquarters and Processing Facility is a 133,128 square foot building consisting of production, equipment, and warehousing rooms on the first floor while the upper levels are reserved for manufacturing, offices, and communal spaces. The facility hosts a staff of around 40 consisting of 35 office professionals and 4 to 6 shift workers in the manufacturing facility. In congruence with a commitment to sustainability, existing features such as the main shell of the building, parking areas, and large open space area were utilized to reduce impact. The company also converted the existing turf area into an outdoor recreation area with basketball courts, walking trail, and native grass/sunflower meadow.
“Seeing the owner’s commitment to sustainability on this unique combination of manufacturing facility and home office was inspiring,” said Katie Breshears, Project Manager for Entegrity. “The design team helped the owner realize their vision by creating a space that is functional as well as inviting. With the team’s commitment, integrating sustainability into the design was seamless. The result is a workplace that is not only beautiful, but also energy efficient and healthy for the occupants.”
As sustainable design was a priority for the Safe Foods Corporation, sustainable upgrades were an important factor in helping reach LEED Silver certification. LEED is a verified green building rating system that addresses the site, water, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality of the facility. The LEED certification of Safe Foods was based on several building achievements that have a positive impact on the facility and the broader community. A few of the notable sustainable design features for the new facility include:
- The installation of Low Mercury Lighting and high-efficiency HVAC systems, saving almost 30% in energy costs per year over a comparable building of this size and use.
- The use of Low Flow Fixtures throughout the center reduces the water used every year by 32%
- Low Emitting materials used during construction to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals that the construction crew and building occupants encounter.
- 492,000 square feet of open space for occupants to utilize for recreational purposes.
- Retained 93% of the existing structure.
Safe Foods’s new headquarters and production facility was designed by Lewis Elliot McMorran Vaden Ragsdale Woodward, Inc., who also provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services. It was contracted by Nabholz, and sustainability consulting, energy modeling, and commissioning was provided by Entegrity.
