By Emily Hooper
When the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was ready to move more than 800 staff members of the Research Support Facility to a main campus in Golden, Colo., the new space had to be an extension of the work it does to promote environmental sustainability. From passive design features that utilize daylight to interior water conservation strategies, the new building brings renewable building concepts to reality, from top to bottom.

As an organization that improves the global environment, NREL’s facility had to perpetuate the same values for its inhabitants, and IAQ was of utmost importance. “NREL’s commitment to a safe and healthy work environment is unwavering,” said Dan Arvizu, NREL director. “I personally believe very strongly in doing all we can to create such an environment. At NREL, we view safety in our work environment as one of the lab’s core values.”

With an impressive index of green installations — including the USGBC headquarters in Washington and the Proximity Hotel, the first LEED platinum hotel in the U.S. in Greensboro, N.C. — architectural firm RNL Design turned to The Mohawk Group, specifically its Lees carpet tiles with thermo plastic backing, to create a safe, healthy and visually appealing space. “Because of the health hazards presented with toxic emissions from PVC, we needed a product that supported healthy IAQ,” said Michelle Richter, lead designer on the project.

The Lees carpet tiles achieved the idealistic goals of the project, including 100% non-PVC construction, low-to-no VOCs, and 25% pre-and 10% post-consumer recycled content, said Diann Barbacci, sustainability director, The Mohawk Group. Additionally, it fulfills MR credits for recycled content, IEQ credits and indoor environmental credit for low VOCs.

Lees also met RNL Design’s goals from a design perspective. With an open floor plan the challenge was to find a product that defined space between offices and open spaces with colorways, Richter said. “We were looking for high quality yarn and a design aesthetic that was simple on a large scale without being obtrusive. There had to be enough variety to change the pattern direction and color.”

Color variations in the still-unnamed Lees collection achieved that; the 30 x 60-foot space has between and six and 10 different lays. “It is relatively linear but a nice combination of cut and loop pile with lots of dimension that will stand the test of time,” Richter said.

The firm’s flooring selections also had to meet goals set forth by the NREL as verified by third-party certifications, Richter said. Once confident in the product’s green properties, “We requested that manufacturers supply a pre-applied adhesive, and the system has been relatively easy to work with from an installer’s perspective.”

It is these types of installations in which The Mohawk Group takes pride. “NREL is a predominant facility and a respected leader in renewable technology,” Barbacci said. “[It is] always reaching for the bar in the latest and greatest in sustainable advances and reaches out to companies that do that, too. This opportunity allows us to offer a like-minded customer similar, leading technology. We’re always researching alternative backing systems and doing R&D in our organization, so when companies reach out to us like this it is a win-win for everyone. It is an honor to add this to our portfolio of prestigious sustainable projects.”