New OnLogic Global Headquarters Showcases Commitment to Sustainability

Rendering of OnLogic’s new headquarters at Technology Park in South Burlington, Vermont. (Wiemann Lamphere Architects)

Michael J Daley

OnLogic (www.onlogic.com), with its June 1,2022 groundbreaking for a new headquarters at Technology Park in South Burlington, Vermont, took a significant step to support the phenomenal growth of the company while fostering a sustainable relationship with planet Earth. OnLogic designs and builds industrial computers and technology solutions for use in challenging environments. Founded in 2003, OnLogic has offices in the U.S., Netherlands, Taiwan and Malaysia. It has seen 30% yearly growth, helping more than 70,000 customers worldwide solve their unique computer needs.

In addition to a wide range of industrial applications, OnLogic systems are used in solar farms, wind farms and hydroelectric installations for data aggregation and analytics, where they must be able to withstand extreme temperatures and be relied upon to operate 24/7. Multiple municipalities and utilities companies also use their hardware for power grid management systems. Their rugged systems are rated for operation in ambient temperatures as low as -40°C and as high as 70°C.

Currently, OnLogic’s 150 Vermont employees work from a pair of locations in the Burlington area. The new $60 million, 140,000 square-foot global headquarters will centralize operations and accommodate anticipated growth for the next seven to ten years. Sustainability features include:

• 640kW roof-mounted solar array, which is expected to cover the majority of the project’s HVAC load and offset the equivalent of 60 homes per year.

• A geothermal mechanical system which, when compared to a code compliant conventional HVAC system, will save approximately 1,574,308 pounds of CO2 per year.

• Twenty-four Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers for use by the OnLogic team.

• Full building automation system designed to minimize energy usage.

• • • Responds in real-time to building use and grid needs (peak shaving-capable).

    • Custom built in partnership with OnLogic engineers and designers.

• Foam glass gravel sub-slab insulation by Glavel Inc., locally sourced from Essex, VT will result in an 87% reduction in carbon compared to traditional rigid insulation. (See the Weatherization article on page 30 in this issue to further understand the importance of this choice.)

OnLogic has assembled an experienced and environmental award-winning team for the project including the Vermont based companies ReArch as lead contractor and Wiemann Lamphere as lead architectural firm.

Green Energy Times discussed this project with OnLogic Team:

G.E.T.: Can you describe a bit of the in-house process that led to the new headquarters and the commitment to a sustainable design? Did that requirement come from your team or arise when you chose a design firm?

OnLogic: Sustainability has always been a pillar of OnLogic’s social mission, from reducing packaging materials, to engineering products that use less power and last longer, and more. We already practice a range of sustainability measures in our current building in South Burlington, and the new building gives us the opportunity to further enhance our impact. From the beginning we knew we were going to explore solar, EV charging, and geothermal. ReArch and Wiemann Lamphere Architects (WLA) helped us assess the viability and brought additional ideas from their combined extensive experience.

G.E.T.: What qualities and skills led you to choose ReArch and the architect firm Wiemann Lamphere? At what point did they join the planning process?

OnLogic: We began designing for this expansion in 2017 with WLA. They have a solid understanding of what we are trying to do, and they bring a wealth of experience to the table. That effort was stalled due to wetland impact issues which caused us to explore alternate sites and finally led us to Technology Park and ReArch. We were ecstatic for an opportunity to join the Technology Park community. We feel it will be a great location for growing our global technology company, and it came with the benefit of working with the ReArch Construction Company. We selected ReArch for their strong reputation in our region. Their team has been excellent to work with.

G.E.T.: Are the EV charging stations meant to accommodate vehicles already in use by your employees or to encourage them to buy EVs in the future (or both)?

OnLogic: Both!

G.E.T.: Is the power for these chargers coming from the building array or another source?

OnLogic: The design is flexible to work with either.

G.E.T.: Your company is growing fast and the press release states this new building will be adequate for the next seven to ten years. Sustainability is also about longevity and adaptability of use. Did the design team envision what this building might be used for in the future if OnLogic moves on?

OnLogic: Future flexibility has driven much of our decision making. We were intentional about how we designed spaces, selected finishes, and incorporated features to satisfy our current needs, our possible future needs, and even hypothetical future tenant(s) or other owners. The overall design enables many options for future expansion and conversion of spaces.

Michael J. Daley is a life-long renewable energy educator and advocate, except for a brief time in high school when he though nuclear power was cool. He lives in a tiny off-grid cabin in Westminster, VT with his wife, Jessie Haas.

Many thanks to our sponsor: