Tyson Foods’ office building in downtown Springdale, Arkansas, known as “Tyson Emma,” has earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
HOK designed the renovation and addition to Tyson Foods’ original headquarters and the former Brown Hatchery building. In 2017, the two existing downtown buildings were redeveloped into the 56,000-square-foot building. The reconstruction is part of Tyson Foods’ ongoing commitment to revitalize downtown Springdale.
“We’re proud to receive the LEED Silver certification of the Tyson Emma building and see our vision to revitalize downtown Springdale come to life,” said John Randal Tyson, chief sustainability officer for Tyson Foods. “As we continue our work to bring innovation and technology to downtown Springdale, we’re committed to doing it in an environmentally responsible way.”
Wood reclaimed from the original buildings accents the office building’s interior, including the reception area, stair treads, walls and landing. The reclaimed wood and original brick facades were maintained, reinforcing the company’s connection between innovation and history. The structural steel, reinforcing steel, steel decking and steel wall studs used in the construction of the building have 69% post-consumer recycled content and were manufactured within 150 miles of the building site.
Located along the Razorback Greenway shared-use trail, the building’s location encourages team members to bike or walk to work. For team members driving to work, carpool and fuel-efficient parking take priority. Additionally, the parking lot uses bioswales to manage rainwater to help prevent floods and overflow.
In addition to the LEED Silver certification, the building recently received a Distinguished Award from the AIA’s St. Louis chapter.