McGraw-Hill Education’s new Dubuque, IA facility became the company’s first fully environmentally sustainable—“green”—building when it opened in October 2007. Incorporating a number of eco-friendly features, the 139,000 square-foot building has received certification by the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.
The building, which is occupied by McGraw-Hill Higher Education’s Science, Engineering and Math Group, was constructed using recycled and regionally manufactured materials and was built on a brownfield redevelopment site. The building was finished using “green” adhesives, sealants, paints and carpets that limit the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the buildings’ interior. Other unique and green features include a white roof to reduce absorption of solar heat; plumbing fixtures that reduce water consumption by 30 percent; and HVAC and mechanical equipment designed and installed to optimize energy efficiency.
The building’s developers were aided by McGraw-Hill Construction’s considerable green building resources.
“As employees of The McGraw-Hill Companies and residents of the Dubuque area, we take very seriously our corporate social responsibility and our responsibility to the communities in which we live and work,” said Kurt Strand, president of the McGraw-Hill Higher Education’s Science, Engineering and Mathematics group, based in Dubuque.
“One of the most important contributions we can make is to nurture and sustain our environment. That’s a major reason why McGraw-Hill’s state of the art facility is a green building that was built to be energy-efficient and constructed with recycled materials.”
