El Paso Corporation

Challenge

Embarking on a green renovation of a 32-story skyscraper to meet LEED certification can be tremendously demanding. The project team met the challenge of completely refurbishing the 48-year-old El Paso office ce building, an expansive corporate
headquarters in Houston, Texas. Changing to an open plan design, the offi ce space needed to perform well acoustically. To meet these acoustic control requirements, the CertainTeed Ceilings sales representatives worked closely with an acoustical consultant and the project architect at Gensler. The project also required high-performing green products that would best contribute to LEED credits. To ensure an optimal level of sustainability, an environmental consultant joined the team for the design and build-out phases.

Success

CertainTeed Ceilings delivered a solution that offered industry-leading sustainable appeal. Working together, the construction and project teams installed Ecophon® Gedina E and Focus™ Dg ceiling panels, which provide low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and the highest LEED recycled content of any ceiling product in North America.The panels, manufactured from high-density glass wool and covered by a micro-porous surface, provide super sound absorption, light reflectance and humidity resistance. The installation consisted of approximately 870,000 square feet of 2 x 2 foot fiberglass ceiling panels. The panels were installed in a recessed visible grid with reveal edge design, creating a shadow effect that accentuates each panel and partially conceals the grid. In addition to its environmental and acoustical performance, the ceilings system was easy to install, which was especially important on such a large-scale project.