April’s Earth Month puts focus on earth-friendly development
Media contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; barbara@eafocus.com; 248.260.8466; Savanna Pace, Cunningham-Limp; space@clc.build; 248.921.2531
Novi, Mich. —April 12, 2024 —In celebration of Earth Month and sustainable development, Novi-based Cunningham-Limp continues its efforts with the 10-acre project it is developing for Japan Solderless Terminals (JST), the global leader in the connection industry, while building its industry reputation in earth-friendly design/build solutions.
The sprawling JST parcel at 35917 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills – hailed as Michigan’s most holistically sustainable commercial project – began development in 2019 after years of detailed planning. The Test Lab, the first of six buildings on the JST site, will be completed this spring 2024.
An homage to the forest and Japanese culture and design, the chief elements of the biophilic development portray the idea of harmony: between people and the ecosystem; Japanese and American cultures; and the preservation of nature in a built environment. All materials are naturally sourced as part of the fundamental theme of the project. In striking contrast to traditional construction methods and materials, there will be no drywall, paint, carpet, or other synthetic products used at all. In perhaps the most remarkable of its sustainability efforts, the interior of one of the buildings will be devoid of electricity or furniture, with a domed roof and timber frames wound tightly by instrumental strings so that when the wind blows, music will echo throughout the property.
The earth-friendly advances at the core of the JST development are attracting widespread attention from the national and international commercial real estate community, economic developers, entrepreneurial innovators, municipal leaders seeking sustainable design for aging infrastructure such as police and fire stations and city centers, and even high school and college students interested in the trades and commercial construction. Cunningham-Limp President, Samuel J. Ashley Jr., LEED AP, who received a Sustainability VIP 2024 nod from Construction Business Owner magazine and was named a 2024 Notable Leader in Sustainability by Crain’s Detroit Business, noted that interest in sustainability is exploding.
“There’s a craving among forward-thinking leaders and creators in the U.S. and around the world to holistically embrace sustainable design at the outset of a development project – whether it be a community building, municipal structure or commercial office space,” Ashley said. “Our work with the JST concept since its inception has allowed Cunningham-Limp to take the lead in new, varied sustainable projects that align with our commitment of building better communities.”
As Cunningham-Limp celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, the company noted current and recently completed projects with an emphasis on sustainability, including:
- Northville Township Essential Services Complex
- Ypsilanti Health Center
- UL Solutions Advanced Battery Lab (Auburn Hills)
- TÜV SÜD Battery Lab (Auburn Hills)
- TI Fluid Systems e-Mobility Innovation Center (eMIC) Expansion (Auburn Hills)
About Cunningham-Limp
Celebrating 40 years of building better communities, Cunningham-Limp is a diversified real estate firm specializing in development, design, and construction led by a team of real estate experts, financial advisors, architects, engineers, and construction professionals. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, with additional offices in Detroit and Traverse City, Cunningham-Limp delivers solutions by integrating with ownership teams and actively managing projects from concept through completion, assuming 100% responsibility for all phases of each project. Learn more at our website.
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