Delta Dental of Michigan hired Walbridge to expand its headquarters in Okemos, Mich., with the expectation it would be done sustainably and in a way that connected the campus to its surrounding community. Later, these efforts would help earn the project the designation of Engineering News-Record (ENR) 2012 Best of the Best Office Project of the Year.
Delta Dental of Michigan (Delta Dental) wanted to grow the size of its headquarters while growing more environmentally conscious at the same time. To do so first required the interior of the company’s former headquarters building to be gutted and renovated. Walbridge was able to keep extensive demolition waste out of landfills and reuse the frame to create a facility that’s energy efficient, lets in plenty of natural light and enhances the work environment for Delta Dental employees.
A new, spacious headquarters building was constructed as well, along with a top-of-the-line data center.
Following completion of its 2011 expansion, Delta Dental’s renovated headquarters and new office building received LEED® Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED® Gold is the second-highest level of eco-friendly design certification offered through the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
A Commitment to Customers and the Community
The Smith Drain on the north edge of Delta Dental’s property is part of a regional drainage system in Ingham County, Mich.
As part of its headquarters expansion and renovation, the company enlisted Walbridge to increase the drain’s basin by nearly 30 percent, thus improving its functionality. The work later garnered Delta Dental an “Environmental Stewardship Award” from Meridian Township Environmental Commission.
Delta Dental’s expanded campus includes a completely renovated office building connected by both a skyway and tunnel to a new 82,000 square-foot office building containing a cafeteria, which accommodates up to 500. With the 160,000-square-foot renovation of the existing building came a new 21,000 square-foot curtain-wall glass façade, a new lobby, updated office space, new conference rooms and all new mechanical infrastructure.
On the eastern edge of the campus, Walbridge built a 22,500-square-foot Tier 3 Data Center. Green roofs – covered with vegetation to lessen heat island effect, absorb storm water and extend the life of the roof – were incorporated to enhance sustainability on campus.
The $91 million project garnered Walbridge an Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) Construction and Design Award, the ENR-Midwest Best Office Project of the Year Award and a national ENR Best of the Best Award in 2012. Delta Dental also earned honorable mention in the 2012 Construction Association of Michigan (CAM) Green Project of the Year competition.