Orion Associates Headquarters Awarded Gold LEED® Certification

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives from Orion Associates, a management services agency, announced today they have been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is an internationally recognized certification that measures the performance of a building or community against metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, emissions reduction, and indoor air quality, among others. In June of 2008, Orion completed an expansion and remodeling project of its headquarters, which also house sister companies Meridian Services, Orion ISO, and Zenith Services. The project also included several renovations to create a healthy, green environment for employees and clients of the organization.

“We designed our new building with the comfort and wellness of our employees and clients in mind. Incorporating environmentally friendly features into the new structure was part of the overall vision to provide an atmosphere of wellness and sustainability”

“We designed our new building with the comfort and wellness of our employees and clients in mind. Incorporating environmentally friendly features into the new structure was part of the overall vision to provide an atmosphere of wellness and sustainability,” said Dr. Rebecca Thomley, CEO of Orion Associates. Thomley added both her father and brother have been affected by environmentally caused diseases.

Orion’s headquarters is located on the northwest corner of Highway 55 and 169 just west of downtown Minneapolis. Contractors used locally manufactured, high efficiency, and recyclable building materials whenever possible including energy efficient glass, insulation, and low heat-gain roofing. The interior uses recycled and low emission finishes for paint, flooring and adhesives. Recycling and filtered water systems were implemented throughout the building to minimize water consumption and high efficiency heating and air conditioning units and filters reduce energy consumption and maximize indoor air quality.

TDB Builders of Forest Lake, Minnesota, were the primary contractors on the project, which added 8,000 square feet of office space and a 1,800 square foot employee daycare facility to the 11,000 square foot structure. TDB Builders is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a certified Minnesota Green Star Builder.

About Orion Associates: Orion Associates was founded in 1999 and is management services company, specializing in human services. Orion Associates has expertise in the fields of finance, human resources, and training. Orion Associates was awarded CARF Accreditation in March 2003 for its administration of Meridian Services’ Family Services (In-Home Services) and Community Living Services (Residential Services and SILS) programs and Zenith Services’ Personal and Social Services (Vocational Services) program.

For more information about Orion Associates, visit www.orionassoc.net.