“We looked for a nationally recognized platform with a clear process and approach,” says Kevin Davis, Incyte’s director of facilities. “Green Globes was project specific and provided support along the way with guiding principles and industry best practices.”
Incyte’s U.S. headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware became the first project to be certified in the Existing Buildings 2021 pilot program. The four-story, 275,500-square-foot combined office and parking structure earned Three Green Globes.
Going through the Green Globes process was a first for Taylor McCracken, facilities lead at Incyte. “It was exciting as well as informative,” McCraken says. “I truly enjoy learning how to improve the buildings we operate and maintain, as well as ways to incorporate better and more efficient materials.”
“Green Globes helped solidify that what we do and how we do it has a positive reflection not only on our internal team members and employees, but also outward to the community and our stakeholders.”
The online questionnaire brought to light new ideas and verified Incyte’s exemplary practices in several areas such as water conservation. Over the past three years, Incyte decreased its water consumption year over year. The facilities team utilized “learn-flow” systems with moisture sensors and a weather data interface to distribute the right amount of water to various zones.
“We really honed our water usage equipment and we check systems on a monthly basis to see issues in real time and correct them,” McCraken explains.
Water conservation is only one of many sustainable advancements at Incyte:
- Eight bio-retention facilities – including five outstanding green roofs – harvest rainwater and provide visual appeal for employees and the community.
- Extensive pervious pavers on site and under ground storage tanks protect water quality and associated aquatic habitat.
- Evaporative cooling with plate exchangers and air handlers provided energy savings.
- Practical recycling and composting with visual reminders to encourage tenant participation.
- The company’s robust communications efforts scored all 12 points in the Building Occupant Environmental Training & Communications category.
Two-Way Conversations
Incyte developed an internal team called Greencyte to help brainstorm and complete tasks associated with sustainable goals and charitable donations. Employees submit ideas to Greencyte, so the entire company is involved in its continual improvement.
Occupants enjoy access to nature thanks to interior and exterior living walls, a walkable green roof, employee vegetable gardens and picnic tables for outside dining. Healthy food services on site, a putting green, pickleball court, treadmill desks, inviting stairwells and an exercise area in the two-story atrium further encourage employee wellbeing.
One of Greencyte’s goals for 2021 was to achieve a sustainability certification for its U.S. headquarters, and Davis says Green Globes provided a plan.
“Sustainability is a buzzword but what does it really mean? How does it change our actions? How do we know we’re there?” Davis notes. “Once we formalize a goal, it helps us organize ourselves on how to get there and gives us a boost in motivation to achieve it. With Green Globes, we partnered with the right folks to make sure it was more than a check-box exercise.”
