Irgens receives sustainability award for first phase of Innovation Campus

Irgens on Wednesday announced the first phase of Innovation Campus in Wauwatosa won certification under the Sustainable SITES Initiative through Green Business Certification Inc., making it the first Wisconsin project certified for promoting sustainable and resilient landscape development.

The developer is working on Innovation Campus adjacent to County Ground Parks, one of the largest and last remaining undeveloped areas in Milwaukee County. The area is home to various wildlife and an old growth forest.

Irgens established a goal to steward the 7.74-acre parcel to protect the area while planning the first phase of campus development, officials said. The developer took input from project team members and local stakeholders to improve the land’s overall resilience and used nature-based solutions to develop the land responsibly, officials added.

SITES, a rating system that guides and evaluates a project’s sustainability in the planning, design, construction and management of landscapes, provided a framework for Irgens’ program and awarded certification after a rigorous evaluation, officials noted.

The first phase of development features a 70,684-square-foot office building called Innovation One. The building is LEED Silver certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and has the largest green roof in Wisconsin, situated on top of a 633-stall parking structure featuring solar panels.

“We knew we had a rare opportunity on this special site, so our team set a lofty goal to go above and beyond to protect and enhance the landscape for not only our office building occupiers, but also for the greater community,” said Andrea Mullins, a vice president at Irgens. “The outcome is a sustainable land development with a SITES certified landscape design that enhances biodiversity and helps mitigate climate change, conserve resources, protect critical ecosystems and improve the public’s health and well-being. I am extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish together,” she added.

The team involved in the SITES certification process included Irgens, Kahler Slater, CG Schmidt, New Eden Landscape Architecture, landscape installer David J. Frank, The sigma Group and Pierce Engineers.

“Sustainable landscapes are essential to the well-being of all life,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “These landscapes reduce water demand, filter and reduce stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, reduce urban heat islands, improve air quality and human health and increase outdoor recreation opportunities. With their SITES certification, Irgens demonstrates an acknowledgement of this reality, and a commitment to improving spaces for their community,” he added.