Columbia, S.C. (June 27, 2011) – Bowman and Brooke LLP, a nationally recognized trial firm focused in high-stakes product liability and mass tort matters, is pleased to announce that its Columbia office has earned a coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification award from the U.S. Green Building Council.
With this honor, Bowman and Brooke becomes the first law firm in South Carolina to receive LEED® certification.
“The LEED® Gold Certification is a terrific achievement for our firm and a boost to our efforts to promote sustainable initiatives,” said Joel Smith, Managing Partner of Bowman and Brooke’s Columbia office. “We are very proud to receive such an honor as it recognizes our commitment to enhance and enrich Columbia’s legal and business community.”
Located at 1441 Main Street, Bowman and Brooke’s new Columbia office was designed by LS3P Associates LTD to be highly energy-efficient, utilizing energy star appliances, low consumption water fixtures, and light occupancy sensors with energy efficient lighting. The office also uses a number of finishes and materials that have high recycle content or come from readily renewable resources, such as bamboo. The 20 person office recently celebrated their new space and the LEED® designation, along with local business representatives, friends, and family members, at an open house event on May 26, 2011.
The building in which Bowman and Brooke’s office is located, at 1441 Main Street, has separately won LEED® EB Certification as well.
Mickey Bailey, Bowman and Brooke’s Chief Operating Officer based in Minneapolis, MN, commented, “Our firm has a long-term commitment to conservation and sustainable operations in all nine of our offices across the country. The Columbia office now joins our Minneapolis office as a LEED® certification recipient, and we will work to add yet more offices to that list in the coming year.”
LEED® is an internationally-recognized green building certification system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in March 2000. Designed to promote sustainable building and development practices, LEED® recognizes projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance. Bowman and Brooke’s Columbia office was evaluated for high-performance in five key areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.