Valerie C. Woodard Office Center Earns LEED Silver Certification

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Mecklenburg County's Valerie C. Woodard Office Center received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Built by Hendrick Construction, Inc., the 180,000-square-foot renovation project transformed the aging Freedom Mall into office space for more than 400 employees. The facility, at Freedom Drive and Interstate 85, houses Mecklenburg County's Social Services, Information Services and Technology and Real Estate Services departments.

"We're proud to partner with Mecklenburg County on this important green-building project," said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. "Its LEED certification underscores our commitment to sustainability."

Green-building features include an under-floor air distribution system, the use of recycled materials throughout the building, as well as eco-friendly paints, carpets and furniture. The facility has an underground irrigation system that collects and stores rainwater from the roof, as well as rain gardens that cool, cleanse and slow the movement of storm water before it enters nearby creeks.

"This facility is an excellent example of integrated design – where the sophisticated day lighting design is integrated with artificial lighting controls to dim the lamps and save energy," said Mark Hahn, director of Real Estate Services for Mecklenburg County. "Our employees really enjoy the open, airy feel of the space designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and built by Hendrick Construction. We're proud of the Silver LEED designation, but even more proud of the healthy environment where our county staff works every day."

Hendrick Construction completed phase two of the project in April 2009. When phase three is completed, the building will accommodate more than 1,000 county employees in approximately 400,000 square feet of space.

Hendrick Construction, Inc. is a Charlotte, N.C.-based general contractor that provides commercial construction services throughout the Southeast. The company's portfolio includes facilities for corporate headquarters, manufacturing, industrial, health care and bio-tech companies, as well as schools, government buildings, churches and restaurants. Visit www.hendrickconstruction.com.

SOURCE Hendrick Construction, Inc.