Not far from where a band of patriots staged a riotous tea party, and within blocks of where Paul Revere sighted two lanterns aglow signaling the approach of British troops by sea, Allsteel Inc. displays its designs for modern day workplace solutions. The company’s Boston Resource Center, at 200 State Street, is on the doorstep of the region’s financial district, in the heart of history and at the intersection of past, present and future. It’s a 12,400-square-foot space that opened a little more than a year ago to provide not only a showcase for Allsteel’s distinctive furnishings, but also to serve the community as a meeting place and ideas hub. Only a few months ago it was awarded LEED-CI Silver certification.

Traditionally, historic surroundings are a comfort zone for Allsteel. After all, the company is based in Muscatine, Iowa, which is on the Mississippi River and proudly boasts of being the pearl button capital of the world (except that pearl is now supplanted by manmade materials for today’s buttons). Allsteel’s award-winning corporate headquarters are housed in a repurposed factory filled with architectural metaphors for the wheat fields, farmland and plains of the Midwest.

In deciding on a downtown Boston location, Allsteel and a team of architects from HOK, which had been tapped to design this latest Resource Center addition, launched an exhaustive review of buildings ranging from classic 19th Century warehouses to contemporary high-rise offices. They searched for something scenic; and, with sustainability an imperative, it had to be a building that also could support LEED-CI certification. The appeal of a financial district location was the adjacency to Allsteel’s client core of banking, insurance, law and other corporate businesses. Though the final 1980s-era building choice was somewhat unremarkable, the space, in the hands of HOK’s design team, became exceptional.

The Resource Center is steps away from the bustle of the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, one of Boston’s most prized restorations, and it offers a scenic view of the active Boston Harbor. From the perch of its fourth-floor location, the space also enjoys a vista of the newly developed Rose Kennedy Greenway, which seemingly floats above the roofline of historic warehouse buildings that served the city’s storied past. The HOK design maintained New England’s longstanding tradition of expert craftsmanship and is a skilled orchestration of historic charm with the prerequisites of today’s work setting needs. Moreover, the number one priority—achieving LEED certification—successfully has been met.

HOK focused on a multitude of design elements including lighting, recycled materials and indoor air quality as it revived the space into a modern, work place using sustainable design practices. With a goal to use 25 percent less power density than the specified standard (ANSI/ASHRAE/ IENSA 90.1-2004), but needing to effectively illuminate Allsteel’s furniture, the team carefully laid out efficient lighting fixtures and designed showroom controls with dimmers and photo sensors. Additionally, the team incorporated energy-efficient metal halide lamps for most of the lighting in the open showroom area.

The design team also utilized materials with as much recycled content as possible and conserved materials by limiting the amount of suspended ceilings. The ceiling panels that were used have no urea-formaldehyde binders. Additionally, they purchased more than 25 percent of materials, including slate flooring and wood paneling, from manufacturers within a 500-mile radius in order to benefit the regional economy while reducing the need for long-haul trucking. What’s more, nearly 90 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills.

To improve the indoor environment, the space was designed with an open plan and large windows that allow daylight to stream into the center of the showroom. All adhesives, paints and coatings used in the Resource Center meet U.S. Green Building Council emission standards. All copiers are located in a completely enclosed room with direct exhaust.

In addition, the Resource Center earned LEED credits because its location promotes the use of public transportation, which is accessible on the ground floor level.

Yet, Allsteel wanted to go beyond the LEED checklist when designing the Boston Resource Center. These efforts were acknowledged with Innovation in Design credits, awarded for exceptional or innovative performance not specifically required by LEED. Among the innovations that the LEED evaluators noted is Allsteel’s installation of a GreenTouchscreen, a system that provides visitors an interactive way to learn how the space earned its LEED-CI certification. Also contributing to the bonus credit are ongoing environmental educational seminars for the architecture and design community that are hosted in the showroom. Allsteel also earned an innovation point for its agreement with a cleaning firm to abstain from the use of hazardous or toxic cleaning chemicals in the Resource Center, which will help maintain the air quality. Additionally, Allsteel has purchased renewable energy credits to offset 100 percent of the electricity used in the Resource Center for two years.

Of course, such a prime location didn’t come without challenges. Like many LEED-CI projects, the building Allsteel leases its space from was built prior to the creation of LEED standards and green building concepts. Some LEED-CI credits requiring extensive structural changes were cost prohibitive and therefore not attempted. But, it did not stop Allsteel from pursuing as many LEED points as possible, earning its Silver certification.

Allsteel currently operates 10 Resource Centers based in major North American markets; Boston is the fourth to earn LEED-CI. Its locations in Chicago (another HOK collaboration) and Toronto are currently seeking LEED-CI certification.

For a visit to the Allsteel Boston Resource Center or for an appointment call (617) 261-1556. For additional details on the company’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.allsteeloffice.com. To view the interactive GreenTouchscreen, visit boston.allsteel.greentouchscreen.com/.