The new 200,000-sf headquarters of IBM Tivoli Systems in Austin, Texas, has achieved LEED certification, distinguishing itself as one of the nation's most environmentally progressive facilities. Designed by the Houston office of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), the office building opened in January 2002 and is the workplace for 750 Tivoli employees. The facility includes office space, a visitor's center, software development labs, an employee gathering area and structured parking. It is the first phase of a 1-million-square-foot office campus to be built over three phases.
The Tivoli building is one of only 39 facilities in the nation to achieve the LEED distinction. The energy-efficient heating and cooling systems use 27% less energy than ASHRAE's office building standard while achieving consistent temperature control throughout the space. The energy-efficient building skin includes a white "Energy Star" roof that reflects the heat and reduces energy consumption. Use of high-performance glass and sunshades maximize daylighting. The design focused on indoor environmental air quality and conservation through local materials and recycling. The 'green' strategies added approximately 3% per square foot to the total building cost, an investment that will be repaid in saved utility expenses.