Sustainability
The Gardner Commitment
One of our main objectives for every project is to design buildings that minimize environmental impact. We use the latest construction technology and materials to create aesthetically pleasing structures with reduced carbon footprints.
Current Practices
Superfund Sites
By developing at Superfund sites, Gardner produces positive economic and social outcomes in the communities in which they are located. We are proud to give new life to underused areas for commerce, housing, and recreation.
Green Certifications
Gardner is dedicated to developing buildings that have a lower impact on our planet, and we are proud to have developed many LEED® Certified buildings. We strive to raise the bar even higher and develop net zero energy ready projects by setting Energy Use Intensity targets that are in line with the IECC 2021 Zero Energy Commercial Building Provisions. We achieve lower energy use and produce lower local emissions by using all electric mechanical systems, constructing efficient building envelopes, and integrating clean energy sources.
Clean Energy
In 2018 rPlus Energies, LLC, a subsidiary of Gardner Group, was established to develop large-scale renewable energy generation and electric storage projects in the United States.
rPlus specializes in bringing projects to market through partnership with the private sector, municipalities, utilities, and industry-leading technology and service providers.
Its portfolio consists of a strategic mix of solar, solar plus battery, wind, and pumped storage hydro facilities to enable a more sustainable, reliable, resilient, affordable, secure, power supply.
rPlus’ projects contribute to the economic and technological modernization of America’s energy systems.
Transit Oriented Development
Locating our projects near public transportation routes has been a top consideration when determining where we develop. Working together with state and city leaders, we create new infrastructure and broaden access for all by designing walkable, bikeable, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use communities centered around regional rail and transportation systems.
The creation of Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) is critical to our mission to accommodate the rapid growth in Utah while making progress to solve our air quality challenges. Gardner is a proud signatory of, and is heavily involved in, the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact.
Water
In addition to the drought conditions that our region is experiencing, the water use in our buildings and for our landscaping are a major contributor to the water shortages that we are facing. We minimize the water use at our projects by installing low water use plumbing fixtures, water wise landscaping and irrigation systems, and air-cooled VRF units for our mechanical systems.
“Gardner handled the entire project with ease and utter professionalism. From the way they answered the phone to every onsite walk-through, they were just amazing!”
— James Horn, Adobe CFO
Mass Timber
Preview Baltic Pointe, the first mass timber office building in Utah
Mass timber is fast becoming a more sustainable alternative to the carbon intense steel and concrete commercial buildings that have been the standard since the Industrial Revolution. Sustainably harvested trees in the U.S. and Canada are formed into laminated timber columns, beams and floor plates to create multi-storied structures that can go up to 19 floors. The prefabricated components are manufactured at the mill – each piece custom made to be assembled on site like a giant puzzle. Mass timber buildings are lighter, requiring smaller foundations, flexible during seismic activity, and naturally able to withstand fire by charring to protect the interior beam.
In addition to the practical benefits, the interior beauty makes mass timber buildings very desirable to tenants and employees.
Gardner has boldly initiated the first mass timber office building in Draper, Utah, 25 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. It’s expected to be completed in late 2023. We are exploring using mass timber in industrial and multifamily housing projects in the near future.
