Jay Gould, president and CEO of worldwide flooring company Interface and sustainability leader, has been announced as the Board Chair for the Park Over GA400 nonprofit. A resident of Buckhead, Gould sees great value in establishing greenspaces that bring communities together.
With his guidance Interface recently designed the company’s headquarters in Midtown, and the building now uses 48% less energy than required by code and houses a 15,000 gallon reservoir tank for flush fixtures. Even the very materials of the building’s exterior were chosen for their ability to repel heat, and the organization aims for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 Platinum certification and WELL Gold Certification. Recently he launched the Climate Take Back effort to reverse global warming and advance the company’s sustainability efforts.
“Jay will make a remarkable board chair because he comes from an organization that proclaimed businesses are responsible for sustainability. He also understands and values the importance of building a community that is accessible and connected,” said Jim Durrett, executive director of the Buckhead CID. As Board Chair, Gould will help to lead the project in sustainable planning, funding, and development.
The park over GA400 is conceptualized to be an open and accessible greenspace that will provide a natural outlet as well as facilitate a sense of community with those who frequent it. The project has been in the works for several years now, and the BCID is hopeful that with Gould at the helm it will continue to evolve and develop into a viable natural respite amidst an increasingly dense urban setting for Buckhead residents.
Surveys for the Park Over GA400 is scheduled to be complete by summer 2019, and preliminary engineering will commence after surveying is complete. As of June 2018 the estimated total cost for the Park Over GA400 plan and renovation of the Buckhead MARTA station is around $250 million, so we expect to see more fundraising efforts in the coming months.
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
