Steelcase's New Plant to be LEED Rated

Steelcase, the office furniture manufacturer, is set to break ground on a new wood furniture plant in Gaines Township, Michigan. The new facility, designed by William McDonough + Partners, will be the first manufacturing building of its size rated by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. Projected emissions reductions of 70% as compared to the company’s existing wood furniture facility in Kentwood, Michigan will be achieved, in part, by switching to a water-based finishing system. Steelcase has also chosen to retire the Kentwood facility’s unused emission credits (valued in excess of $5 million over five years).