Naming Opportunities Recently Accepted at the Southface Eco Office

When the Southface Eco Office opens its doors as a one-of-a-kind sustainable office, education and event space, guests will enter the property through an exquisite atrium space – the Melaver Eco Nexus. Melaver, Inc., a Savannah, Ga.-based, vertically-integrated sustainable real-estate firm, recently renovated the Whitaker Building in Savannah, one of the first properties in the U.S. to receive status as both a registered historic landmark and silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. In 2006, Melaver will hold a grand opening ceremony for one of the first and only all LEED retail shopping center complexes in the country, Abercorn Common in Savannah.

“We are a third generation family business with a history of community involvement,” says CEO Martin Melaver. “We are also committed to environmental responsibility. By supporting the Eco Office, we are enabling Southface to grow its important work toward ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”

At Southface, we like to say the cornerstone of our work is education. We have referred to the classroom in our current Resource Center as the heart of Southface. Now, the primary training and event space in the Eco Office will be The Home Depot Foundation Training Center. “At The Home Depot Foundation, we support organizations that are building efficient, healthy homes that people of low to moderate means can afford.

These homes are built to minimize the impact on the environment, to reduce energy and maintenance costs and to improve indoor air quality,” says Kelly Cafferilli, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “We understand that Southface will be a place to educate others on ways to achieve this goal. Through this training center we are enabling Southface to help us fulfill our mission and to continue its important work toward ensuring strong, sustainable communities for generations to come.”

Upstairs in the Eco Office, visitors to the private office areas will find themselves in the EPIC Metals Executive Suites. Within these spaces, some of EPIC’s most innovative products will be visible.
EPIC Metals’ products, featured throughout the Southface Eco Office project, provide architects and engineers with exposed, long-span roof and floor deck ceiling systems that address architectural aesthetics, acoustics, and sustainability.

“We have been involved in high profile, sustainable projects around the country,” says EPIC Metals Vice President, David Landis. “What makes the Eco Office different is its educational component. Southface will use the Eco Office to educate design and construction professionals on a variety of EPIC’s innovative, environmentally responsible products.”

Several Eco Office naming opportunities remain. For information, call 404/872-3549 ext. 124.

Tom Cox Recuperating at Shepherd Spinal Center

Tom Cox joined Southface as Residential Services Director in the fall of 2005 following fifteen years as a residential builder in the Atlanta, Georgia area. With a Marine Engineering degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Tom also had prior experience with a major U.S. manufacturer of industrial machinery in sales and management. He is certified by the ICC in all aspects of international residential code.

Recently, Tom was seriously injured in an automobile accident. If you would like to know how to extend your support to Tom during his recuperation, please contact alice@southface.org or you can visit the blog set up by his family on the web at tomsprogress.blogspot.com.