When Danish global water pump manufacturer Grundfos decided to open its Americas Regional Center and U.S. headquarters, it was looking for a hub to strengthen new markets in the U.S. and across the Americas while providing the company a strategic advantage to address labor and supply chain challenges. But Grundfos also wanted the finished site to be a firm nod to its Scandinavian roots and deeply engrained commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The recently opened facility in Brookshire, Texas, 40 miles west of downtown Houston in Fort Bend County, satisfies on all fronts and proudly showcases the company’s sustainability values and mission.
The new, two-story LEED Platinum (pending) campus, designed by lead architect PGAL and constructed by Harvey Cleary with M2L Associates handling the site landscape architecture, includes more than 46,000 square feet of education, exhibition and training spaces on the ground level for staff, visitors and customers, with administrative office space on the second floor. A technical support building adjacent to the main office building serves as a working showroom for the company’s product lines.
The buildings are surrounded by park-like green spaces with ponds and a custom water feature. Michael Mauer, M2L’s lead landscape architect for the project, said the facility’s beautiful green spaces are seamlessly integrated into the campus design and meant to underscore the company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible use of water and natural resources.
“Working with Grundfos to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of this project was incredibly inspiring and fulfilling for our entire team,” Mauer said. “From the beginning we had the company’s support to display and optimize water on every level, and the results did not disappoint.”
With the LEED Platinum certification goal leading the way, the design team was able to incorporate numerous features beyond sustainable landscaping design to boost the project’s eligibility for the highest LEED level:
- Restoration of the site included rebuilding existing soils to a preconstruction standard, contributing to a more natural site condition.
- Site irrigation is served by site rainwater runoff from an adjacent M2L-designed and -expanded pond.
- The courtyard fountain, a beauty in and of itself, is replenished with air conditioning condensate water.
- Buildings incorporate solar panels, and surrounding green spaces are lighted with LED technology.
- Site includes parking lot water infiltration through the use of permeable grass parking spaces.
“What a privilege it was for our M2L team to help bring this new facility to life for Grundfos,” Mauer said. “Companies looking to embrace higher levels of sustainability and incorporate responsible and efficient use of resources into their projects have more methods than ever to consider. The new Grundfos facility will be a beacon of growth in Brookshire and west Houston as well as a shining example of sustainability achievement.”
Sustainability is at the core of Grundfos’ business, the company maintains, calling it a mindset and way to do business. As such the company is focused on sustainable operations as well as helping the world meet United Nations climate goals related to water and climate change.
Grundfos was founded in 1945 and owns 83 local sites around the world that manufacture more than 17 million pumps annually, according to the company. Grundfos has more than 19,000 employees worldwide, including 90 employees at the Brookshire location.