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Green Architecture Highly efficient, conveniently located and remarkably liveable, 543 Howard Street embodies the very best in contemporary design. Recognizing that progressive workplaces mean healthier employees, increased productivity and accelerated growth, Gordon Development has incorporated the use of environmentally sensitive, or "green" building practices throughout the development and construction process. Starting with the fundamentally green practice of Adaptive Reuse, we have restored and recycled most of the original 1924 reinforced-concrete structure, including the original wood-sash windows along Howard Street. While the craftsmanship associated with traditional building materials is often praised, very few builders rely on renewable materials for structural work in commercial construction today. 543 Howard Street is that rare exception. Renewable materials have been the foundation for much of the renovation, preserving the building's unique character while also helping us to eliminate many of the toxins found in most other office buildings today. Heavy timber framing and board-formed concrete give 543 Howard its distinct look, while simultaneously creating a much healthier work environment. The use of traditional materials has also helped us to create new efficiencies for potential occupants. The building's new fire-rated perimeter walls are finished with hand-trowelled plaster instead of sheetrock. The new floors have been built and insulated with 3" tongue-and-groove wood decking, creating naturally finished ceilings that more than substitute for the dropped ceiling systems found in many office spaces. All structural steel has been painted with intumescent paint, enabling users to leave these dramatic structural elements exposed, once again reducing insulation and sheetrock expenses and maximizing usable space, while also enhancing the building's essential character. Floor-to-ceiling operable windows, open balconies, and a 30' x 20' skylight maximize both natural light and fresh air intake, reducing operating costs while also contributing to a much healthier work environment. A highly efficient evaporative-cooling HVAC system reduces energy consumption still further and provides considerable utility cost savings, while the building's carefully designed floor plans maximize useable space and create new efficiencies not found in San Francisco high-rises. Thoughtful engineering and design has also helped to keep the building's load factor, operating expenses and tenant pass-throughs very low by city standards. Ultimately, of course, 543 Howard's environmental impact has been minimized most by the building's strategic location. Two blocks from both MUNI and BART on Market Street, and one block from the TransBay Bus Terminal and the Fremont Carpool Station, 543 Howard is a veritable mass-transit hub, giving employees from throughout the Bay Area convenient access to work without the use of a car. (Though, of course, cars are still an option, with plentiful and cost-effective parking throughout the immediate area.) Potential users should refer to the standards set by the US Green Building Council for additional information on green building design. The USGBC has developed a sophisticated and rigorous rating system for environmentally friendly construction.
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