Inside the new BASF headquarters

The chemical giant BASF is proud to show off its new North American headquarters in Florham Park today — after all, it’s made with many of the company’s own products.

The building’s foundation is constructed with a concrete that requires less energy to produce, its insulation comes from a polyurethane spray foam and an outdoor patio is built of a porous pavement that allows water to flow through naturally. There is a coating on the roof and windows that reflects the sun’s rays as a way to control temperature. Scattered throughout the building are chairs BASF helped create, known as the Emeco 111 Navy Chair, each of which is made from 111 recycled plastic soda bottles.

Teaching visitors how BASF’s products work is an important aspect of the new building, said Fried-Walter Muenstermann, executive vice president and chief financial officer of BASF. The $130-million headquarters will have its official ribbon-cutting ceremony today, with employees offering tours and demonstrations to invited officials and dignitaries. One main feature in the building is the Innovation Center, just off the main lobby, where interactive graphics explain many of BASF’s projects worldwide.

"It’s always very difficult to demonstrate what chemicals do because you never see them," said Muenstermann, who was responsible for the project. "With this Innovation Center, and using as many products as possible for our new headquarters, we can actually demonstrate that the chemicals produced by BASF have a certain function in a building, and that they lead to something."

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