Making its (Bench)mark
Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/63810/
ROGERS — In 1978, Paul Parks started The Benchmark Group — then an electrical engineering firm — out of his own living room.
What a difference 30 years makes.
In no time, the business spread into his garage and, eventually, into the building now occupied by the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. From there, Benchmark, which has expanded its scope to become one of the leading architecture and engineering firms in the region, grew to own or lease seven office spaces across Benton County.
On Thursday morning, Parks stepped to a podium at 1805 N. Second St. in Rogers to unveil the new 118, 000-square-foot Benchmark Group headquarters, which served as his backdrop.
“ I never could have imagined this when I started, ” Parks said of his company’s growth to more than 260 employees, which prompted the new building. “ It’s difficult to put it all into words. ”
Benchmark Group employees began moving into the facility June 30. But Thursday’s unveiling ceremony marked the first time in more than 14 years that the entire company is situated under one roof.
The building represents more than just the continued success of The Benchmark Group. The headquarters, which took nearly 18 months to construct, is in line to become the largest new-construction commercial office building in the entire state to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
According to the U. S. Green Building Council, which sets the standards for LEED certification, the University of Arkansas Innovation Center, in the Arkansas Research and Technology Park in Fayetteville, was the first LEED-recognized project in Arkansas. The project earned certification in September 2004. Since then, eight more structures have earned LEED certification across the state, most notably The William J. Clinton Presidential Center and the Heifer International Center, both in Little Rock.
From the insulation inside the walls — made from 85 percent recycled blue jeans — to the reflective rooftop system and 2, 000-gallon underground water-capture storage cistern, Benchmark went above and beyond to construct an example for others to follow.
“ We’re an architecture and engineering firm, so this is our business, ” Parks said. “ This is the first building we’ve constructed for ourselves, so this was our opportunity to put into place so much of what we do on a daily basis into our own facility. ”
Walk the halls and office spaces within The Benchmark Group headquarters, and the sustainable details become obvious. The energy-efficient lighting systems, emphasis on natural light, state-of-the-art HVAC setup and main-lobby flooring, made from recycled materials, are among the highlights. And there are plenty of details not visible to the naked eye, such as the low-volatile organic compounds — glues, sealants and more — used beneath carpets, in wall paint and more.
“ We’ve nearly doubled our office space, but this building will use considerably less energy than we were before, ” Parks said.
The Benchmark Group building followed LEED standards through the construction process but must wait several months to a year for the performance of air-conditioning and heating systems, lighting fixtures and other components to be monitored for success.
In addition, the building features a number of perks that cater to the well-being of employees. There are nap rooms on each of the four floors of the building, a lactation room, and a half-mile walking trail that circles the 14-acre parcel. Several employees were already taking advantage of the trail, walking during their lunch break on Thursday.
“ It’s important to our city to see nice things like these happening on this side of town, ” Rogers Mayor Steve Womack said. “ There’s been a lot of attention paid to what’s been happening along the I-540 corridor, but this is an example of a major employer making a major investment on North Second Street. ”