Environmentally Friendly Structure Draws Attention
The spotlight is on Boldt Co., and it’s green.
The company, based in Appleton, Wis., but a major player in Oklahoma City construction for 20-plus years, is getting attention from all over because of its new Southern Division headquarters building at 101 W Hefner Road.
It could have been based in Memphis, Tenn., or Augusta, Ga., where Boldt also has operations.
But neither city could compete with the strength of construction in Oklahoma City, said Jerry Ennis, president of Boldt’s Southern operations.
That’s why state commerce officials are coming to the dedication and grand opening at 11 a.m. Thursday.
But how the $6.5 million building was built makes the new digs doubly important ‹ for Oklahoma construction history and the environment.
Boldt built the building “green,” according to guidelines from the U.S. Green Building Council. The 42,000-square-foot building achieved the silver certification of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, known as LEED.
That’s why state environment officials will be at the dedication. It’s the first privately built LEED-certified building in Oklahoma.
Oscar C. Boldt, 81, chairman of the board and grandson of Martin C. Boldt., who founded the company in 1889, is scheduled to take part in the dedication. His son, Tom Boldt, is chief executive.
“Green” building refers to land use, design and construction strategies that are friendly to the environment and make economic sense.
Green means recycling; maintaining indoor air quality; installing equipment that does not use chlorofluorocarbonbased refrigerants, among other things.
Green building added $275,000 to the cost of the Boldt building, Ennis said, but will pay for itself with reduced energy bills in about five years.
“There are a lot of reasons why we are making this kind of commitment in Oklahoma City,” Oscar C. Boldt said from Wisconsin. “We’ve found the environment there to be conducive to our own set of values. People are hardworking and ethical. It’s the kind of environment where we want to live and grow.”
“Another coincidence is Oklahoma had the land rush in 1889. That’s the same year as our company was formed. So we have lots of things in common.”
Boldt accomplished what it set out to do with its new headquarters, Ennis said.
“You know what the biggest challenge was? We were very busy. We were doing the airport, three MAPS for Kids high schools, the National Weather Center at OU and the Alumni Center at OSU. If there was a stepchild project along the way, guess which one it was? Our own,” he said. “We weren’t going to jeopardize a customer’s project.”