Receiving LEED Silver certification in 2008, this run-of-the-mill 1980s insurance office building was transformed into DAHLIN's transit-oriented headquarters. This non-descript building, immediately adjacent to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station, began life as a State Farm Insurance automobile claim center. Through a first-story addition and renovations totaling 26,748 square feet, it was transformed into an architecturally relevant corporate office with LEED Silver certification.
The design of our workplace promotes a collaborative, team-oriented environment, and has become a mini laboratory for sustainable design and on-site educational opportunities for employees and visitors. Potable water use was reduced by more than 33 percent, and energy consumption reduced by nearly 50 percent with the HVAC system. Over a third of all furnishings were refurbished or reused from the previous tenant, and all furniture in the reception area was custom made from bamboo, strawboard, or locally harvested reclaimed wood.
Today, DAHLIN continues its commitment to sustainability and is working towards making the DAHLIN headquarters a Net Zero Energy Building. Features and actions taken since include:
-- Solar panels to reduce dependence on the power grid and reduce CO2 emissions. Measure DAHLIN solar here.
-- Higher performance roof to lower HVAC requirements.
-- Installation of free electric charging stations for staff to promote use of electric vehicles.
-- Installation of additional drinking water fountains and removal of plastic water bottles.
-- Removal of single-use plastic cutlery from all offices.
-- Electronic accounting systems employed to reduce paper billing/usage.
