New US headquarters meets highest standards 

The new BASF North America headquarters in Florham Park, New Jersey opened at the beginning of May. The 325,000 square feet building is one of the largest sustainable buildings in the state of New Jersey. More than 30 products and solutions developed by BASF were used to meet the stringent requirements of the LEED® Platinum certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a registered trademark of the U.S.-based Green Building Council, which promotes sustainable building practices worldwide.

The new BASF headquarters embodies resource efficiencies in terms of energy, water and material. The construction process utilized a concrete admixture, insulation systems and surface coatings from BASF, among other BASF products. The latter reflect the sun’s rays from the roof and windows and ensure a cooler interior. Thanks to innovative solutions, the building requires 20 percent less energy than conventionally designed buildings. About half of the electricity required is supplied by renewable energy sources. The bright, inviting glass construction enables an outstanding view from almost anywhere in the building - natural daylight illuminates 75 percent of the interior.

Low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce indoor water usage by an estimated 40 percent, while the landscape plan incorporates native plants that require 85 percent less water to survive. The outdoor patio is built of a porous pavement that allows water to flow through naturally. Recycling plays a major role as well. At least 20 percent of the materials used contain recycled content. Collected rainwater is filtered, cleaned and reused, both as irrigation and as the primary water source for the toilets. Last but not least, some of the office chairs are made of 111 recycled plastic soda bottles