In November 2021, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) opened its new North American headquarters building, a light-filled gem of a structure set on a leafy-green, 56-acre campus in Avon, Ohio. To add to the list of milestone achievements, Bendix has now been awarded LEED Silver certification for the new Avon facility. 

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, outlines the fundamental elements for a healthy, high-efficiency, and cost-saving green building. LEED is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Bendix’s new headquarters consists of a main building totaling more than 200,000 square feet and a free-standing, multi-bay commercial vehicle garage. It is certified to LEED Silver v4. According to LEED data for Ohio, the building is the first in Avon to achieve LEED Silver v4 certification.

“We’re proud to achieve LEED Silver certification for our headquarters facility,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix director of corporate responsibility and sustainability. “This building is not only beautiful to look at and a wonderful, inviting place to work. It’s also a reflection of Bendix’s long-standing sustainability strategy, supporting our goal to be a partner with our planet by reducing energy consumption; diverting waste from landfill; and increasing our use of green, renewable energy.”

Bendix's facilities and HSE (health, safety, and environment) teams worked together closely on its targeted LEED certification effort in Avon.

“In keeping with this LEED commitment, before a single line was drawn or shovelful of dirt turned for the new headquarters, Bendix invested in LEED and made it a core part of the building program,” said Jim Wischmeier, Bendix facilities and maintenance manager, who worked with project champions in senior leadership and helped choreograph the LEED process. “LEED considerations were critical in all decisions, including making LEED expertise part of the criteria in choosing partners for the project.”