Work |
ASHRAE Global Headquarters
Peachtree Corner, GA
How do we turn yesterday’s buildings into tomorrow’s benchmarks for sustainability and energy efficiency?
A Deep-Green NetZero Energy Retrofit Accomplished on a Tight Budget
When ASHRAE—the global authority setting the gold standard for HVAC&R design and sustainability—needed a new headquarters, they didn’t just want a building. They demanded a bold statement: prove that the buildings we already have can be transformed into high-performance, net-zero energy champions, without breaking the bank. Instead of tearing down and starting fresh, we took a 1970s office building and reimagined it from the inside out. Every inch was rethought, every system optimized to meet—and exceed—ASHRAE’s own rigorous standards.
Winning this project was a testament to our team’s expertise and fearless commitment to redefining what’s possible in sustainable architecture. We assembled and led a powerhouse team—including Houser Walker Architects, Integral Group, Skanska, and top sustainability consultants—whose collaboration brought the best ideas from concept through renovation to occupancy. Together, we reimagined the 66,700-square-foot space, optimizing every detail to slash energy use and carbon emissions.
This retrofit is more than just a workspace. It’s a living laboratory, showcasing cutting-edge HVAC&R technologies, passive design strategies, and durable materials. From supercharged daylighting to a tight building envelope and right-sized systems, the design doesn’t just perform; it inspires.
ASHRAE’s new global HQ proves a powerful point: the future of sustainable design isn’t always about new builds—it’s about transforming yesterday’s buildings into tomorrow’s benchmarks. And with McLennan Design leading the way alongside our talented collaborators, smart, affordable, net-zero renovations can—and must—be the new norm.
ASHRAE
Design Architect
Net Zero
Peachtree Corner, GA
66,700
2020
South
Commerce, Workplace, Renovation, Education
AIA South Atlantic Region Design Award Paladin Sustainability Award, ENR Southeast Excellence in Sustainability Award, Metropolis Magazine Planet Positive Merit Award, AIA Georgia Honor Award, ULI Atlanta Honor Award
Post and Pre-Renovation of the 1970’s building.
Repurposing buildings like this saves considerable carbon and reduces habitat disruptions of harvesting new materials for our buildings.
View of the main North side entrance which brings people into the atrium through a repurposed bridge that adds an exciting moment of compression before revealing the cinematic view of the lake and landscape from inside.
— THE PATH TO NET ZERO
Reusing entire structures and retrofitting them to be both super efficient and then powered by renewables is the ultimate solution, as it addresses both operational and embodied carbon impacts.
The goal of the project was to produce one of the most energy efficient buildings in the south, and to exhibit advanced mechanical and electrical solutions as a demonstration of high performance design.
“One could make the assertion that constructing a new net-zero-energy building from the ground up would have been much easier than renovating an existing building. We decided that ASHRAE could make the greatest impact by showing others how to renovate an existing building with net-zero-energy as the focus, using our own standards and guidelines.”
Ginger Scoggins, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, CEM, CxA
The South side of the building overlooks Technology Park Lake and
provides a central gathering atrium that extends outside to an elevated
deck. Lower levels of the building are dedicated to team meeting areas,
conference and classrooms and are joined in the center by a communal
dining and kitchen area. The white facade allows the ever changing
shadows from nearby pine forest canopies to playfully activate the facade
and in a subtle way adds biophilic moments with dappled shadow to
dance around inside the building.
Lower level spaces are dedicated to training, conference space, and gathering areas and provide indoor and outdoor access to the central atrium and deck.
Right-Sized Systems, Oversized Impact
ASHRAE’s HQ doesn’t just talk performance—it runs on it. Every mechanical and electrical system was precision-tuned for efficiency. The fully hydronic overhead heating and cooling system—now the largest radiant panel installation in the Southeast—is paired with DOAS ventilation for optimal indoor air quality. Advanced lighting controls work in harmony with natural daylight, reducing energy use while keeping interiors bright, clear, and comfortable. It’s not just a retrofit—it’s a blueprint for what’s next.
The new super insulated wall system with new glazing included shade fins for each side of the facade to reduce solar glare and heat gain. The high performing facade plays a vital role in the overall retrofit process to achieve NetZero energy goals.
Before Images
Why It Matters
This isn’t just a retrofit—it’s a manifesto. ASHRAE’s new HQ proves you don’t need to bulldoze the past to build the future. We took a tired 1970s structure and turned it into a Net Zero powerhouse—without disturbing a single established tree. No sprawl. No waste. Just smart, climate-specific design that works with what’s there.
In a world chasing shiny new builds, this is a blueprint for resilience: reuse, rethink, regenerate. If more cities followed this path, we’d be a whole lot closer to a livable, sustainable future.
Awards & Recognition
2023 Planet Positive | Metropolis | Workplace & Education Honorable Mention Award
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2022 AIA Georgia Honor Award | For Design Excellence
2022 ULI Atlanta | Annual Awards for Excellence
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2021 ENR Southeast Region | Excellence in Sustainability Award
