AKRF’s Karen Franz Receives LEED Accreditation

AKRF, Inc.

New York, NY -- April 29, 2005 -- Karen Franz, P.E., a Technical Director at AKRF, has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Karen's LEED accreditation will keep AKRF, a multidisciplinary engineering, environmental, and planning firm, at the forefront of sustainable design.

"With the real estate industry moving toward low-impact construction, we want to help our clients make the best choices with their projects and reap the benefits of sustainable design and LEED certification," said Karen, who received a B.S. in Bio-Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University. The USGBC's LEED guidelines set standards for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED-certified buildings operate more efficiently and may be eligible for government financial incentives.

As a civil engineer at AKRF, Karen contributes to site designs with lower impacts on the surrounding environments and people. "What I enjoy most about this work is the concentration on an integrated design approach, with architects, engineers, and the whole team working together to create a more efficient project design."

Even though LEED certification is voluntary, more government agencies are requiring it, and developers are starting to demand it. "AKRF has always supported responsible development," Karen remarked. "With LEED accreditation, I can bring those principles to a broader audience."

About AKRF

AKRF is a multidisciplinary consulting firm specializing in environmental, planning, and engineering services. AKRF's engineering division provides a broad range of site/civil engineering services, including site planning and layout design, parking and ramp layout for outdoor and garage structures, roadway and signal design, sewer and utility design, subdivision plans, sediment and erosion control, storm water management, environmental remediation design, and coastal protection structures. We take the project from initial planning through its final endpoint, including problem-solving to develop viable engineering solutions, negotiating with regulatory agencies, obtaining permits, preparing design drawings and specifications, implementing the project and overseeing construction, and performing post-construction monitoring and maintenance. The firm is trusted by both the regulatory and project sponsor communities for its ability to balance environmental and community issues with project objectives.