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E² Inc. |
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On Feb. 11, E² Inc. moved its offices to a building formerly used as a textile mill in Charlottesville’s downtown area between Monticello Avenue, Elliot Avenue, and Sixth Street. The ‘Ix building,’ as it is known locally, was the largest mill of the Frank Ix & Sons textile company from 1928 to 1999. A local developer is converting the building for use as office space, shops, and residences. E² Inc.’s offices occupy more than 6,000 square feet of the 325,000-square-foot building space. David Slutzky, president of E² Inc., says the move is in keeping with the firm’s philosophy and vision for the future. “Our firm was established to not only support our clients’ objectives relating to sustainable development, but also to demonstrate the commercial viability of sustainable corporate behavior. Our move into the Ix Building reflects that commitment.” E² Inc. moved in part because it outgrew its former office space. In 2000, the firm employed only four local employees, but it now has a staff of 27 local employees as well as staff members who work from remote locations. E² Inc. designed its new office space with an eye toward employee comfort and it incorporated ecologically preferable materials where practicable. The company used natural linoleum (which is made from linseed oil and wood flour), cork and partially recycled carpet as floor coverings and is using paint with no volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) on the walls. The firm organized its offices around a private courtyard surrounded by windows to bring in natural light. E² Inc. has also installed Sunpipes to channel natural daylight into interior rooms and conserve electricity. A local development group bought the nearly 325,000-square-foot Ix building in December 2000 and is transforming the area into a mixed-use renovation. In addition to E² Inc., the Frank Ix building houses CK Courier, Stafford Insulation, Telephone Services, AIDS Service Group, gyms, non-profits, and TV studios for ABC, CBS, and Fox among others. The next phase of IX will include residential, retail, and artisan spaces. Ten acres of the Ix site is outside and will be kept as a green space that will include water features, sculptures, and stonework. There are also plans for an amphitheater and outdoor café. Contact: Briana Branham The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded E² Inc. a three-year contract to provide economic, technical, and policy analysis in support of the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties. EPA has primary federal responsibility for the assessment and cleanup of land contaminated by hazardous wastes, and, under the contract, E² Inc. will assist the agency in protecting the public and working with communities that are affected by these properties. As part of the new contract, E² Inc. will work with the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) to carry out the Superfund Redevelopment Initiative. This Initiative, launched in 1999, seeks to ensure that EPA cleanups are conducted in ways that not only protect human health and the environment, but also allow for productive use of the land. E² Inc.’s wide-ranging services under the contract will include research and analysis, policy and guidance development, coordination with stakeholders, and support of EPA in the planning, analysis, and implementation of waste cleanup programs. Contact: Briana Branham |
