On Friday, June 26, Byrne celebrated LEED Certification for renovations at our office spaces in Rockford, Michigan. The highly prized designation as LEED-Certified spaces means these areas showcase both exceptional sustainability and leadership in transforming building environments. From water-saving plumbing systems to energy-efficient light fixtures, our facilities team has worked to make these projects as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible – and this special acknowledgement is a big confirmation of those efforts.
It was a gratifying day for the many Byrne employees involved in creating these spaces, but a bittersweet one as well.
Just two short years ago, we lost our dear friend and facilities and design manager extraordinaire, Elizabeth Anna Wirgau, in a car accident. Before her passing, she worked enthusiastically on these remarkable office transformations and her passion for them becoming LEED-certified spaces guided decision making throughout the projects.
Liz was an incredibly talented individual. And we weren’t the only ones to think so. In 2017, She was honored with the first ever American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) “Ones to Watch” award in the manufacturing category. That year, ASID recognized seventeen interior design professionals, from across the country, as remarkable talents in their various fields. In 2018, Liz was also posthumously awarded Ferris State University’s annual Pacesetter Award—created to recognize notable alumni who demonstrate leadership and service to their professions, community, and service organizations.
Here at Byrne, these renovations are just a part of larger environmental efforts, and now that the spaces have officially been recognized as LEED certified, CEO Dan Byrne couldn’t be more proud. “The continued passion and dogged determination of Byrne’s facilities team to finish the work that Liz started really underscores each and every employees’ commitment to our sustainability journey.”
“Liz worked here for a decade, and her dedication is remembered in countless project details. She’s greatly missed by our entire Byrne family of employees – I can’t say enough about how much Liz touched my life and all of those around her,” says Byrne.
As the plaque was presented, Liz’s husband, Chris Wirgau, stood alongside Byrne’s facilities team to share this honor on his wife’s behalf.
So, thank you to Liz for helping make Byrne the special place it is today. We were lucky to call you one of our own. And thank you to our outstanding Byrne facilities and maintenance teams and our trusted long-term vendors for being so instrumental in this success. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Byrne Facilities Team for Project:
Dane Kolar, Wayne Sobie, Korbin Garvey, Jim Vanderlaan, Mayra Delgado, Josh McBryde, Shannan Dorman, Drew Petropoulos, Rachael Atkins, Kevin DeCanter
Byrne Project Partners:
Nugent Builders
Custer
T&D Electric
Smart Building Services
Seaman's Mechanical
West Michigan Lighting
Kendall Electric
Rockford Floor Coverin
