The gang at LightsOn West Virginia have opened their LEED-certified office building in downtown Oak Hill, and it's an exciting example of a concept that Jeff Miller and others in the sustainable development field promote: Why not leverage the "embedded energy" that exists in the hundreds of existing structures in West Virginia communities and put them to new, progressive use?
Brandon Holmes and George Rogers are serial entrepreneurs in Fayette County. Their first endeavor was an adventure tourism videography and marketing firm, but needing a new office of their own, they began to get excited about the potential of real estate and development, particularly as it relates to refurbishing the forgotten gems found throughout West Virginia small towns.
The fruit of their idea is now a reality - the Bellann Building, a circa 1930's brownstone in downtown Oak Hill. The team has completed their renovations and are on track to become the only LEED-certified private sector building in the state pending a year of data collection required for that designation.
In addition, the company has provided new, exciting space for up-and-coming organizations and entrepreneurs in the area. Companies that have already located in the building include Earthmark, Drive Current and the National Parks Conservation Association.
From the State Journal article:
"Quality of place issues and connectivity to the web are changing the business landscape in an unprecedented way," Holmes said. "...We can make progress and recruit people who want to live in a spectacular place like the New River Gorge. We are recruiting the newest generation of West Virginians."
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