Norix Completes Construction on New LEED Gold Manufacturing, Distribution Center and Corporate Headquarters in West Chicago's DuPage Business Center

WEST CHICAGO, Ill., July 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- West Chicago-based furniture company Norix has completed construction on its new headquarters and manufacturing facility located at One Innovation Drive in the DuPage Business Center.

The Heitman Architects-designed building was completed in June 2021 and was built to LEED Gold specifications to support Norix's sustainability goals, including the extensive use of renewable energy.

"Finally moving into this new facility has been a transformative experience for many of us, and we've realized that our sustainability journey is just beginning" said Scott Karl, Norix CEO. "We're already having discussions about ways to innovate out of the limitations of current technology and set some bold goals, and our new facility at One Innovation Drive really opens up the world for us."

Norix is an internationally recognized manufacturer of furniture for the healthcare, justice, transitional housing, education, GSA, and commercial markets, with an expertise in the ability to humanize environments that can be institutional in nature.

The new facility will allow Norix to add a significant number of new jobs and to continue its success through aggressive growth and market expansion. The facility is designed to support approximately 300 employees.

Heitman Architects designed the corporate manufacturing and warehouse facility to support the company's goal of creating a sustainable and efficient environment where manufacturing, assembly, packaging, storage, distribution, showroom and corporate office processes are housed under one roof.

"Norix has made a long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability and this state-of-the art headquarters reflects its core mission as well as the products the firm produces," said Erik Heitman, AIA, LEED-AP, project manager of Heitman Architects, a national firm based in suburban Chicago. "The Norix corporate headquarters was designed to combine the best in sustainability with an innovative interior and exterior design features that seamlessly incorporate all company functions in one setting."

Company leadership was also focused on building a facility that would embody the firm's culture, work environment, and serve as a foundation for attracting and retaining talent. "We want to be a leader in the industry and this building will be part of our legacy, a symbol of what we're trying to accomplish," said Karl.

Highlights of the sustainable features at the core of the building design include:

• The use of natural topography and landscaping; an extensive pedestrian pathway around the property; energy efficiency elements in the building envelope; renewable energy sources; and an extensive sun shade and solar panel system to harvest daylight.
• The use of exterior sun shades to block direct sunlight entering the office. A horizontal and angled "blade" design on the south office facades will help shade summer sun and let in winter sunlight. About 90 percent of the electricity for the building and manufacturing process will come from renewable energy sources, including 3,279 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof. Additional energy will be harvested from 22-foot solar trees incorporated into the landscape.
• The facility is constructed of pre-cast concrete panels and energy efficient double-paned insulated curtainwall glass with rusticated "cor-ten" steel accents.
• The site includes natural landscaping and bio swales where storm water from paved surfaces can filter back into the ground. Landscaping reflects the natural prairie environment that existed prior to the industrial park's building, which minimizes the need to mow, irrigate, and use herbicides or fertilizers.

Sustainable design features also specifically benefit employees, encouraging them to fully embrace the company's commitment to sustainability, including:

• The employee café, with high ceilings and expansive glass walls, lets in natural light and provides views into the landscape. The café directly connects to an outdoor patio to provide workers with outdoor experience and fresh air.
• In-house showers are designed to give employees incentive to bike to work for fitness and environmental health. Employees are encouraged to live in nearby developing suburban neighborhoods where they can walk/bike to work or share transportation.
• Preferred parking spaces will also be provided for carpoolers and provide dedicated charging stations for those using fuel-efficient cars.

The facility is located on 22 acres within the 800-acre DuPage Business Center, a business park campus developed by the DuPage Airport Authority. The building's campus setting offers room for expansion and is adjacent to a 15-acre nature area.

"From the inception of the project, Norix expressed a desire to make the project as "green" as possible and achieve a LEED certification as recognition for its sustainable efforts," Heitman added. "The project's owner, general contractor, architect, and engineers set a standard for green building design, construction, and operations, setting these as top priorities."

About Norix
For more than 35 years, Norix has designed furniture that meets the real-world need for humanizing challenging environments. We pride ourselves in creating products that serve the healthcare, justice, transitional housing, education, GSA, and commercial markets in ways that make those environments safe and secure. Learn more at http://www.norix.com.

About Heitman Architects
Heitman Architects is a leading national architectural design and planning firm at the forefront of innovation, technology, sustainability and efficiency in the corporate office and industrial sectors. The firm leverages its unique understanding of real estate value and technology to advise clients and create innovative, customized solutions that address clients' growth and operational needs.

A strong advocate for sustainable building, the firm has received several prestigious industry awards, including the CoreNet Global Sustainable Leadership Award. The firm has designed more than eight million square feet of LEED certified industrial buildings, including the first LEED Certified industrial building in Illinois. Based in suburban Chicago, the firm's clients include global food industry firms, along with advanced manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and healthcare businesses.

Editor Note: High-resolution photos of One Innovation Drive are available upon request and can be viewed online at norix.com/about-us/green-policy

Media Contact

Laura McGowan, The McGowan Group, +1 (630) 863-8709, [email protected]

SOURCE Norix

Related Links

http://www.norix.com