Woonsocket, RI and Lexington, KY: CVS/pharmacy and Gray Construction announced that the recently opened CVS/pharmacy distribution center in Chemung County, New York has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Gray is the design-build firm responsible for the design and construction of CVS/pharmacy's new facility.
LEED, a trademark of the US Green Building Council (USGBC), is the nation's preeminent green building certification program. Projects seeking LEED certification are evaluated for their implementation of practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Standing for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design," LEED promotes sustainable building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance. Gold is the second-highest level of LEED certification given by the USGBC.
CVS/pharmacy's Chemung building is the company's first LEED-certified distribution center. The 751,000 sq. ft. facility's LEED certification is also notable for being the largest industrial building in the state of New York to achieve the Gold level. In addition, it is one of the ten largest industrial buildings in the US to receive LEED Gold certification.
Examples of sustainable design elements incorporated into CVS/pharmacy's new distribution center include:
- Energy-efficient, white PVC insulated roof
- Interior & exterior lighting with daylight sensors and timers
- High-efficiency, low-flow plumbing fixtures
- Rainwater harvest system for irrigation
- Fluorescent fixtures and skylights
- Construction process using local materials, recycled materials and waste recycling
"CVS Caremark is committed to contributing to a healthy environment in all areas of our business and we are very proud that our new distribution center in Chemung was awarded LEED Gold certification," says Ron Link, senior vice president of Supply Chain and Logistics at CVS/pharmacy. "This achievement reflects the years of dedication and hard work of our colleagues from around the company and our partners at Gray Construction."
Gray, which has customers throughout the United States, has been designing and building to LEED guidelines for several years. Currently, about 40 to 50 percent of Gray's projects have met some level of LEED certification.
"CVS Caremark embraces a long-term commitment to sustainable design and construction, which is reflected by the LEED Gold certification of their new facility," says Stephen Gray, president and CEO Gray Construction. "We applaud their vision and are proud to have been a part of their team."
The Chemung distribution center, which opened in June 2011, will support the inventory and fulfillment needs of approximately 350 CVS/pharmacy stores in the northeast. Representing an investment of approximately $90 million, the facility will employ about 300 people by the end of this year and a total of 600 people when it reaches full capacity.
