Doosan Bobcat’s North American HQ certified for sustainability

After its sustainability-minded remodel and expansion, Doosan Bobcat’s North American headquarters in West Fargo, ND, received LEED Gold certification

Doosan Bobcat notched a high sustainability achievement this week as the remodel and expansion of the company’s North American headquarters was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

Located in West Fargo, the headquarters is the manufacturing giant’s second building in North Dakota to achieve LEED recognition after the Bismarck-based Doosan Bobcat Acceleration Center, an engineering research and development facility for the company’s equipment, received certification in 2018.

Overall, Doosan Bobcat’s headquarters, originally built in 2000, is only one of 12 LEED-certified buildings in the state.

“As a leader in the industry with high standards for quality and innovation, we are extremely proud to receive LEED Gold certification and have our headquarters reflect those values,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “Our goal is to provide a space that operates sustainably and supports our employees with a healthy and inspiring workplace.”

LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the most widely used system that ensures buildings employ design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health.

Shultz + Associates Architects, based in Fargo, served as the architect for the remodeling and expansion of the headquarters building, and Doosan Bobcat said the firm oversaw the delivery of LEED features that earned the project the gold-level certification.

In 2017, Doosan Bobcat completed the $9.5 million expansion and remodeling of its North American headquarters, according to the company, and the most recent project doubled the square footage of the building to 110,000 square feet.

The interior of Doosan Bobcat’s North American headquarters was upgraded with high-performance building systems, operating methods and light automation that will decrease energy consumption by 35%, among other sustanability-focused highlights

Doosan Bobcat said the newest version of the building will provide an open, modern office environment to its employees working in administrative, finance, IT, engineering, product management, sales and marketing functions.

Sustainability features of Doosan Bobcat’s remodeled building include the installation of ventilation-monitoring systems for indoor environmental quality; upgraded geothermal HVAC; green power renewable energy that offsets 53% of the building’s energy costs; a new irrigation system for all landscaped areas and low-volume interior fixtures that will reduce water use by 41%; high-performance building systems, operating methods and light automation that will decrease energy consumption by 35%; and recycling practices to divert 77% of onsite construction waste from the landfill and utilized recycled materials for 12% of building materials.

Doosan Bobcat said it’s committed to its buildings, employees and communities – in 2019, the company invested approximately $55 million into expanding its facilities in Litchfield, Minn.; Statesville, N.C.; and Gwinner, N.D.