On Wednesday, June 3, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for Novus International's global headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. The ceremony, attended by guests from around the world, state and local dignitaries, inaugurated the new facility, which consolidates the Global Headquarters and the International Research Center.
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Thad Simons, president and CEO of Novus, during inaugural ceremony.
The new building has received the Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. This only the fourth building in the state of Missouri to receive the Platinum LEED designation. LEED is a certification awarded by U.S. Green Building Council for buildings that demonstrate energy efficiency and sustainability.
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Elements of this sustainable building include: solar panels, construction materials from salvaged sources and recycled content, energy efficient under-floor air distribution system, landscaping with native plants and grasses (requiring no irrigation), and use of natural light.
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Thad Simons, president and CEO of Novus International, said "This project was about: cost, culture and communication. Sustainable culture is an important part of Novus' global vision."
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon praised Novus for its spirit of innovation that will move Missouri forward. He sees sustainability as a philosophy for saving the planet and growing the economy.
Don Vondriska, Novus' director of business development, mentioned that sustainability is made up of three factors: social, environmental and economic. He said that being green has been the way of doing business at Novus since its inception.
