The new global headquarters for Colorcon received LEED Gold certification from the USGBC. Colorcon is a worldwide leader in the development, supply and technical support of formulated coatings and other excipients for the pharmaceutical and dietary/food/nutritional supplement industries. The new 90,000 square foot facility is located in Harleysville, PA and includes their global headquarters offices, global tier 2.5 Data Center and research and development labs.

Colorcon's Headquarters is an excellent model of environmental stewardship for suburban office buildings. Energy efficiency drove the entire building design, which achieves 27% energy savings through architectural, mechanical and lighting systems, remarkable for a building with intensive energy demands from the labs and the data center. Natural light is capitalized on through the architecture of daylight design, while thermal efficiency of the building envelope decreases energy demand. Mechanically, the load is reduced by intelligently measuring demand and leveraging outside air, while efficient equipment decreases greenhouse gas emissions. Daylight harvesting and energy efficient light fixtures, distribution and controls decrease electricity usage. Peak load shaving leverages the on-site generator to provide energy during peak summer periods, reducing utility demand charges and providing significant cost savings.

Construction Quality Control was ensured through commissioning, and an impressive 95% of construction waste was diverted from landfills. Site strategies included development minimization, a multi-function berm, a reforested buffer zone, a rain garden, environmentally sensitive site lighting, a vertical green wall and a roof terrace irrigated from roof water run-off.

Services Bala provided:

• MEP/FP Engineering
• Voice/Data Engineering
• Security Design
• Structural Engineering
• LEED Commissioning

Engineering System Highlights:

• Air cooled chillers with free cooling options
• A/C unit with energy wheel for training room
• Intelligent BAS with occupancy sensors, and a Democratic voting system for temperature control
• Bi-level site lighting
• Daylight Harvesting
• DI-RO lab water systems, lab quality compressed air systems, lab nitrogen & helium systems
• 48% water savings from low flow fixtures,automatic flush valves and faucets
• Waterless urinals reduce water useage and waste water treatment volume
• High-grade leading edge cable plant technologies
• Wireless design
• Overhead Paging
• Security Systems
• Dual entry telecommunications circuits
• LEED Commissioning

Other Project Team members:

• Wulff Architects
• The Norwood Company
• IES Engineers Lab Safety Consultant
• McCloskey & Faber Landscape Architect
• Urwiler & Walter, Inc. Site Civil Engineers