A Model For Sustainable Innovation
The Stanley Center for Peace and Security, located in Muscatine, Iowa, brings together people from across countries, cultures, and sectors to create dialogue and drive policy for mitigating climate change, avoiding the use of nuclear weapons, and preventing mass violence and atrocities. In late 2019, the organization, which had been leasing space in their founder’s hometown for more than 60 years, decided to create a permanent home for itself. Members of the center's staff and governance team initiated a collaborative process to envision their ideal workspace, determining that their new facility needed to not only align with the organization's core values but also embody their commitment to mitigating climate change and building equitable communities.
The Stanley Center's journey towards a more sustainable future began with the acquisition and renovation of the former Musser Public Library, which had served for decades as a learning hub for the Muscatine community. Working together with Neumann Monson Architects, the Living Building Challenge (LBC) was adopted to guide the center's workplace design efforts. Considered the world’s most rigorous proven-performance standard for buildings, the LBC requires that certified Living Buildings produce all their own energy and be self-sufficient, create a positive impact on the human and natural systems that interact with them, and connect occupants to light, air, food, nature, and community.
Opened for occupancy in January of 2023, the Stanley Center generates all its electricity through solar panels, captures the rainwater that falls on site for use as potable water, features biophilia throughout its space, and offers daylight access for every office. In addition, every individual office was designed to be the same size, further demonstrating the organization’s dedication to equity and inclusivity. Allsteel’s Beyond® glass walls were also incorporated throughout the building to both foster and represent the values of openness and transparency.
Mark Seaman, Vice President and Director of Communications for the Stanley Center and a key figure in the collaborative process of shaping the ideal workplace notes the tangible positive effects of the new environment: "All this access to movement, daylight, nature, and biophilia has had a palpable effect on health, efficiency, and the way that we interact with one another. There’s more collaboration, creativity, and inspiration here than I ever expected."
With a clear purpose of achieving the highest standards of green and sustainable living, the Stanley Center has successfully transformed its new home into one of the most environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable buildings in the world. With only a few dozen buildings worldwide achieving full Living Building Challenge certification, the Stanley Center's new home stands to become the 35th globally and one of only four to accomplish this through the renovation of an existing building.
INSTALLATION DETAILS
Location:
Muscatine, Iowa
13,500 SF
Partnerships:
Neumann Monson Architects
Graham Construction
PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
Demountable Walls:
Beyond® Walls
Seating:
LIV Stool
Parallel™ Sofa
Retreat™ Conference Chair
Desks:
Silea™ Desk
Tables:
Corral Cobra Table
Harvest™ Table
Accessories:
Park™ Planter