In building its own $3-million, LEED gold-certified headquarters in Sarasota, Fla., general contractor Willis A. Smith Construction sought to make a statement, both to its employees and prospective clients.
“Sustainability is sweeping the country,” says David E. Sessions, the firm’s president. “We wanted, as a firm, to become a leader in sustainability and be recognized for that. Importantly, we wanted to educate ourselves and involve all of the employees. And we wanted to experiment using our own money.”