WESEL, Germany – The most recent laboratory wing of BYK Additives & Instruments, a division of ALTANA AG, is the first lab building in Germany to receive Platinum status, the highest distinction that the U.S. Green Building Council awards as part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

LEED defines a series of standards for environmentally friendly, resource-efficient and sustainable construction. This meant that during the design phase of the project, special importance was placed on the facility's efficient use of energy. BYK Additives & Instruments invested in geothermal energy, heat pumps and heat recovery systems in order to reduce primary energy consumption by over 30 percent. 8,000 square meters of laboratory space were created using building materials that either come from renewable materials or can be easily recycled. Even the ventilation system for the 130 state-of-the-art work stations meets the strict energy standards.

Dr. Gerald Kirchner, the Project Manager, said, "Thanks also to the early enlistment of the LEED certification auditor from Jones Lang LaSalle, the project team was professionally and effectively supported throughout the entire planning and implementation process."

Albert von Hebel, Managing Director Finance for the company, stressed, “This ultramodern laboratory building is a further component in our comprehensive Greenability concept. We don’t just develop additives that enable our customers to market environmentally friendly products; rather, we begin directly at the local level and examine where we might act in a more eco-conscious way. The Platinum status represents excellent validation of our pursuing this course.”