Steelcase To Open Its Green Facility In October

GRAND RAPIDS — Steelcase Inc. will unveil its new Steelcase Wood manufacturing facility in Gaines Township in a grand opening ceremony on Oct. 2.

The event will include addresses by company officials and a ribbon cutting assisted by Michigan Gov. John Engler.

Plans also call for a tree planting ceremony and facility tours, said Jeanine Hill, public relations program leader for Steelcase.

New technology incorporated into the building will reduce the amount of emissions by 380 tons per year or by 70 percent compared to the existing Steelcase Wood facility in Kentwood. 

Steelcase has worked closely with the U.S. Green Buildings Council to use the building as a pilot project for the council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. It is the first manufacturing building of its size to seek certification as a LEED facility.

At October’s grand opening ceremony, the company will announce the LEED certification it has won, whether gold or silver.

The company expects to know by Aug. 14 what LEED certification status the Green Buildings Council will award the facility, Hill said.

 

Once the building gets LEED certification, it will stand as the largest LEED certified manufacturing facility in the U.S., Hill noted.