First Tech Federal Credit Union, the nation’s premier credit union serving technology companies, has been awarded a LEED Gold Certification - the organization’s second highest honor for sustainable building and design - for its new corporate campus in Hillsboro, Oregon.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a framework for creating healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
First Tech was evaluated on a range of criteria and earned recognition for the following sustainable features, including:
- Innovation in Design: First Tech’s new and forward-thinking methods, including a “Green Housekeeping Program” to ensure sustainable cleaning and maintenance
- Indoor Environmental Quality: First Tech’s use of energy efficient indoor materials, including paints and coatings, floorings, sealants and lighting
- Materials and Resources: First Tech’s use of regionally sourced materials, including cross-laminated timber
- Energy and Atmosphere: First Tech’s optimized energy performance and green power
- Water Efficiency: First Tech’s exceptional water use reduction and water efficient landscaping
- Sustainable Sites: First Tech’s superior accessibility of alternative transportation, including bike storage and electric vehicle charging stations
First Tech Engages Employees in New Corporate Campus Design
In addition to sustainability, First Tech also took measures to ensure the new corporate campus promotes employee satisfaction and productivity. First Tech employees were given the opportunity to respond to a survey ranking the importance of various aspects of their workplace, including natural light, meeting areas and floor plan layout. First Tech utilized this feedback to create a functional space that would allow employees to thrive. The new Hillsboro corporate campus enhances the sense of community for First Tech employees, utilizes state-of-the-art resources and technology, creates improved quality of collaboration and promotes employee comfort and engagement.
“When envisioning the new First Tech Oregon corporate campus, our main goal was to provide a location where employees can do their best work, but we also wanted to create an innovative space that would contribute positively to the community,” said Monique Little, chief people and administrative officer at First Tech. “Our new corporate campus in Hillsboro features a wide range of environmentally friendly features, including the use of cross-laminated timber. We’re thrilled to be recognized by LEED as a leader in sustainability and look forward to seeing this building support our employees and members for years to come.”
The building was designed by Hacker Architects and Swinerton Builders served as the general contractor. Additionally, JLL managed the brokerage, project and development services, economic incentives, LEED consulting and workplace services for the project.
To learn more about First Tech’s new corporate campus, as well as the credit union’s involvement in the community, visit: https://www.firsttechfed.com/.