Structural Considerations

Ecoservices has a double-edged objective: to construct a headquarters that exemplifies environmental correctness at a reasonable cost to the company. Of equal importance is providing the employees with friendly working conditions. To accomplish these tasks, we support abandoning plans to build an eight-story structure in an 85-acre research park and embracing the proposal to convert the Green Creek paper mill into office space.

Section 1: Budget Considerations

Besides the obvious savings from lower construction costs in the Green Creek plan (see table), we should not overlook one outgrowth from the Green Creek plan. As Ivan Divac stated, it is an increase in employee performance that, calculated into overall expenses, ultimately saves Ecoservices money.

Going Up in Cost

Remodelling a paper mill to accommodate 2,330 employees is no small enterprise. Already we're looking at $90 a square foot. Still, that figure is roughly half the cost of constructing the eight-story complex.1

High Rise vs. Low Rise

Organizational ecologists are citing evidence that buildings exceeding five stories hamper employee communication and reduce office efficiency. The less vertical Green Creek mill complex would maximize employee performance, encourage employee interaction, and create a better working environment.

Section 2: Environmental Considerations

Our business is based on finding that one ounce of prevention will save us from having to repair our environment later. It stands to reason that we should select the plan that best conserves on land and building materials.

Low Impact Building

Ecoservices can spare 85 acres of unspoiled land by adopting the more resourceful approach of refashioning the paper mill. Except for a few minor adjustments (a 20,000-square- foot addition to the main building and an expanded parking lot), Ecoservices can transform the mill into a fully operational headquarters without heavily disrupting the mill's natural surroundings.

Protecting Our Natural Resources

Constructing the eight-story tower will require 60% more building materials than the Green Creek mill conversion. And unlike the remodelling project, building the multistory structure will severely limit the amount of recycled materials we could use to complete the task.

Section 3: Time Factor

Ecoservices can transform the Green Creek mill into office space in half the time it would take to build the high rise. And, because the Green Creek complex can be completed section by section, employees will only experience minor interruptions and can resume full performance before the project is completed.

Section 4: Lighting Considerations

Ecoservices should reconsider plans to illuminate the headquarters with floodlights after business hours. The excessive lighting is a waste of energy and money, and our security department will contradict any claims that the extra lighting is necessary for security purposes.

References

Keele, Howard. Remodeling and Recycling: One Man's Vision of the Past, Present, and Future. London: Harper and Sons Publishing, 1984.

Gomes-Hansen, Janet. "Why Light Buildings at Night?" Recycling Today 15 September 1990: 32-35.

Divac, Ivan. "The Inverse Relationship Between Interoffice Communication and Office Efficiency." Organizational Ecology 15.1 (1992): 5-22.