Matthew Gertzog, MBA, CAE, ASH Chief Operating Officer

2010-12-05

In late January 2010, ASH moved to its new headquarters building at 2021 L Street, NW, in downtown Washington, DC. The 10-story, 80,000 square foot building houses our 65-person headquarters staff, accommodates ASH committee meetings in its top floor conference center, and is home to the “ASH Club” — a place for ASH members to work and informally network while in Washington, DC.

In September 2010, ASH proudly announced that the building had been designated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum for New Construction, making ASH the first nonprofit association in the country to achieve LEED Platinum certification for a commercial office building larger than 80,000 square feet. ASH’s headquarters is now one of only seven LEED Platinum commercial office buildings in the District of Columbia. A plaque recognizing this noteworthy achievement was formally presented to ASH Executive Director Martha Liggett, Esq., in late October by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is now prominently displayed in the building’s lobby.

LEED Platinum certification is the most difficult and highest designation given by USGBC, which developed a certification system to guide organizations in building and renovating space with sustainability in mind. Many of the materials used for the ASH facility were regionally sourced and manufactured using recycled products. Notably, the design and construction costs remained within ASH’s budget; the space is cost- and energy-efficient and offers plenty of natural light, low-flow plumbing, motion-sensitive lighting, and low-energy light fixtures.

“It was always our intention to build this new space with sustainability as a priority, and it was only natural that we looked to the LEED rating systems and USGBC for guidance,” said Ms. Liggett. “Achieving LEED Platinum status while staying on budget has put ASH at the forefront of the green building movement and is a tribute to our Executive Committee, staff, and our talented team of real estate development advisors.”

The search for a new headquarters began more than two years ago when the ASH Executive Committee began contemplating its next “move” knowing that the lease at its current headquarters was set to expire in March 2010. A subcommittee was formed to investigate lease-versus-purchase options, and the group quickly concluded that purchasing in Washington, DC, was the wisest long-term financial decision for the Society. After looking at a number of buildings in the downtown DC area, the subcommittee ultimately chose 2021 L Street, NW, because it had many of the key features ASH was looking for, such as:

• Proximity to several Metro stations and easy access to NIH, Capitol Hill, and Reagan National Airport

• Enough square footage to accommodate our current needs and allow for future growth

• The capability of meeting contemporary energy standards

ASH employees are housed on floors 6 through 9, there is a conference center on the 10th floor, and retail tenants are on the ground level. ASH is currently negotiating leases for tenants to occupy floors 2 through 5; leases will be structured so that space can be reclaimed in the event that ASH expands in the future.

ASH members are invited to visit the new headquarters building when in Washington, DC and enjoy the ASH Club and fitness center.

While the headquarters address has changed, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of ASH staff have remained the same.