A Transfusion of Creativity

Tirelessly advocating for the research and treatment of blood disorders, the American Society of Hematology revealed equal fervor for environmen­tal stewardship when commissioning a new Washington headquarters.

Annie Block, Mark McMenamin, and Meghan Edwards -- Interior Design, 6/1/2011 2:01:00 PM

Tirelessly advocating for the research and treatment of blood disorders, the American Society of Hematology revealed equal fervor for environmen­tal stewardship when commissioning a new Washington headquarters. RTKL Associates, AtSite, and Sustainable Design Consulting designed the nonprofit's 40,000-square-foot building, where offices and conference spaces are augmented by such amenities as a fitness center and the ASH Club, a lounge for visiting members.

At the start of the project, the team compiled a list of sustainability standards that reads like a primer for snagging LEED Platinum-which the completed building has already done. Virtually all demolition and construction debris was diverted from landfills. Regionally sourced materials include Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood for paneling and rapidly renewable cork for flooring. A glass curtain wall allows sunlight to reach more than 75 percent of the regularly occupied spaces. In fact, the low-energy lighting and high-performance HVAC system, alone, reduce energy consumption by nearly 12 percent. Low-flow plumbing yields a 32 percent reduction in water use, too. 

Most dazzling among the eco specs is a bit of eye candy. Cascading four stories through the central stairwell, in full view of appreciative passersby, a fiber-optic chandelier's recycled-acrylic disks symbolize blood platelets.