OVERVIEW

Endo Health Solutions Inc. (Endo) is a US-based diversified healthcare company focused on finding solutions for pain management, pelvic health, urology, endocrinology and oncology care. In 2011, Endo was in the market for a new headquarters building to consolidate the company’s multiple real estate positions for their corporate functions to a single location.  The desired geographic location for a new headquarters facility was within the Pennsylvania/New Jersey “pharma” corridor.

CHALLENGE

Two challenges were identified at the start of this project. First, in order to meet Endo’s occupancy requirements and to coordinate with lease expirations, the occupancy timeline was just 15 months from inception of design to completion of construction. Second, despite the tight time frame and related limitations, Endo wanted the building to exceed current LEED certification requirements. Being LEED certified was a top priority for the tenant, which wanted to impact its building’s performance and bottom line, while also providing healthy indoor spaces for its employees.

The team created a schematic design, and then immediately met with respective fabrication teams to review first-round shop drawings – within months of the originating napkin sketch. An integrated design approach with the Construction Manager and Developer was the only way the team could pull off the time line.

For architect Todd Grant, RA, LEED B+C with L2Patridge, the project’s architectural firm, bringing in YKK AP was an easy decision. “They are one of the only off the shelf companies out there that have an open door policy with its engineers and a willingness to make custom dies for the job,” said Grant. “Although this was all done very quickly, we were able to create unique expressions on the building due to the team atmosphere created by all of those involved.”

SOLUTION

Grant specified three of YKK AP’s newest enerGfacade products for Endo Health Solutions. The YES 45 XT store front system, the YCW 750 XT curtain wall system and the 35 XT doors would help provide Endo best-in-class thermal performance and exceed not only current codes, but also the most stringent green building codes and standards in the market today.

The YES 45 XT storefront system, featuring a double thermal barrier design, provides superior thermal performance and structural integrity for the site. Its double thermal barrier design significantly reduces heat transfer and keeps internal surfaces warmer for Endo.

The YCW 750 XT high performance curtain wall utilizes MegaTherm® technology

with structural polyamide struts (in three widths) that accommodate standard 1 inch glazing units as well as advanced glazing options such as triple glazing and suspended film technology. This results in outstanding thermal performance and increased resistance to condensation, with a Condensation Resistance Factor (CRFf) up to 82.

YKK AP’s new high-performance MegaTherm XT thermal entrances were also specified as part of Endo’s new headquarters site. All aspects of the doors, including the frames and thresholds, are thermally broken by YKK AP’s MegaTherm polymer, which separates the interior and exterior extrusions by more than 0.270 inches to reduce energy flow providing superior performance over standard entrances.

The 1-2-3 punch of YKK AP’s newest enerGfacade products would help Endo earn LEED certification and enhance the site’s overall energy conservation.

RESULT

Working together, the team executed the job within the slated 15-month timeframe. ENDO took occupancy of the space in January 2013. The 320,000 square foot headquarters facility was designed as two 150,000 SF office buildings inter-connected by a two-story glass lobby that acts as the centralized entrance for both buildings. Building amenities include executive offices, full service kitchen, cafeteria, conference center and fitness center. The interiors were designed to support a high-performance workspace, with extreme flexibility and transparency as the key design objectives. The building will be certified as LEED-NC later this year.