Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems' North American headquarters building has been named the overall winner of Cleveland 2030 District's Green Building Challenge.
The Cleveland 2030 District partners with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Ohio’s Northeast Local Leadership Team to host the annual challenge, created to recognize commendable new construction and renovation projects in Northeast Ohio, the company says.
Bendix’s headquarters, which opened in November 2021. It consists of a main building totaling more than 200,000 sq.-ft., and a free-standing, multi-bay commercial vehicle garage. The construction of the headquarters campus was an opportunity to be a signature part of Bendix’s larger strategic environmental efforts.
“We’re honored to achieve the Green Building Challenge distinction for our Avon headquarters,” says Maria Gutierrez, Bendix senior director, environmental, social, and governance (ESG). “This building is a transformative facility that works better for the environment, and just as important, for the Bendix team members who walk through its doors every day. It reflects Bendix’s long-standing sustainability strategy, supporting our goal to be a partner with our planet.”
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Bendix’s sustainability journey has been at the forefront of the robust global efforts underway at its parent company, Munich, Germany-based Knorr-Bremse. Knorr-Bremse is the global market leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other safety-critical rail and commercial vehicle systems.
Both organizations have focused on aligning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) actions with the United Nations’ (U.N.’s) ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 17 overarching sustainability objectives provide a blueprint for prosperity for people, the planet, and both local and global economies. Over the past decade, Bendix sustainability programs have concentrated on minimizing environmental impact through waste reduction and diversion, as well as energy efficiency and emission reduction projects. These elements were also key drivers in the Avon headquarters construction project, Bendix says.
Bendix also integrated key LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) concepts throughout the design and planning process. In 2022, the facility earned LEED Silver v4 certification, Bendix says.
“As a good environmental steward and a good neighbor, we were intent on succeeding across the complex array of LEED requirements,” says Jim Wischmeier, Bendix facilities and maintenance manager. “Our headquarters is the culmination of an enormous amount of intentional thought and effort that started from day one of the pre-planning and conception and continued through every step of design and construction. The LEED framework will also help ensure the building maintains its performance into the future as well.”
