Etsy's Brooklyn Craft eCommerce Headquarters

Sustainably Crafted Doors Contribute to Etsy’s HQ Living Building Challenge

When Etsy set out to create its new global headquarters in Brooklyn, the company
aimed to design a workplace that reflected its values of community, craft, and environmental responsibility.

Partnering with Gensler, the team committed to pursuing Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal Certification through the International Living Future Institute. This required rigorous vetting of all materials to eliminate Red List chemicals and ensure responsible sourcing and transparency.

That scrutiny extended to architectural wood doors. Wood components needed to be invasive, salvaged, reused, or sourced from responsibly managed forests (Forest Stewardship Council–certified), while also meeting strict material health standards and supporting the warm, crafted aesthetic central to Etsy’s vision.

Industry

Office / Mixed Use

Location

Brooklyn, NY

Products

Wood Veneer Doors

Project Partners

Gensler

The Challenge

Meeting Rigorous Sustainability and Material Standards

Etsy envisioned its headquarters as more than a workplace — it sought to create a regenerative ecosystem aligned with its values of community, craft, transparency, and environmental stewardship.

To achieve Living Building Challenge certification, the project team had to meet strict requirements across Place, Health + Happiness, Materials, and Beauty Petals. The Materials Petal was particularly demanding, requiring vetting of over 1,500 design sources to eliminate harmful Red List chemicals and ensure materials were responsibly sourced.

Wood products were required to be:

Invasive, salvaged, reused, or FSC^®-certified
Free from toxic substances
Aligned with sustainability and aesthetic goals
Crafted to reflect Etsy’s culture of authenticity and artistry

The design team effectively rewrote the specification book to ensure every
component met LBC standards.

The Solution

Architectural Wood Doors Delivering Sustainability and Elevated Design

Forte provided custom Aspiro^® series Hickory veneer doors, engineered to meet the project’s stringent sustainability, health, and performance criteria.

The doors delivered:

Sustainably sourced wood veneer aligned with Living Building Challenge standards
Compliance with strict material transparency standards
Custom craftsmanship to meet the architect’s design vision
Warm, natural aesthetics reflective of Etsy’s creative culture

Forte worked collaboratively to ensure the doors satisfied both the environmental certification requirements and the elevated design expectations of the project.

The Result

Achieving Living Building Challenge Certification Without Compromise

The Etsy Headquarters achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Certification—one of the most demanding sustainability achievements in commercial construction—without compromising design integrity.

The building features:

100% renewable energy through onsite and offsite solar arrays
Significant energy savings through high-efficiency systems
Over 90% construction waste diverted from landfills
Extensive interior greenery supported by rainwater systems
Materials rigorously screened for health and environmental impact

Forte’s doors contributed to a workplace designed to be regenerative—not merely sustainable—and reflective of Etsy’s commitment to transparency and community. For architects and designers pursuing ambitious sustainability goals, Forte provides solutions that support material transparency, performance, and aesthetic excellence.

Key Takeaways

Custom architectural wood doors designed to meet Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal Certification requirements.
FSC®-certified and responsibly sourced hickory veneer aligned with strict Materials Petal standards.
Red List–compliant assemblies vetted for material health and transparency.
Crafted to reflect Etsy’s values of authenticity, artistry, and environmental stewardship.
Warm, natural aesthetic reinforcing the project’s community-focused design vision.
Integrated seamlessly with high-performance building systems supporting renewable energy and waste diversion goals.
Contributed to achieving LBC Petal Certification without compromising design integrity or performance.

About Our Project Partners

Collaborators Driving Innovation and Sustainability

Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm committed to creating innovative, sustainable, and human-centered spaces. With offices worldwide, Gensler serves a diverse range of industries, delivering design solutions that combine creativity, strategy, and technical expertise to shape the environments where people live, work, and thrive.

Forte Opening Solutions delivers a full range of commercial door systems and components designed to meet performance needs and design priorities across education, healthcare, hospitality, and office spaces. Previously known as Masonite Architectural, Forte Opening Solutions is backed by a legacy of trusted brands, including Marshfield DoorSystems, Algoma Hardwoods, Mohawk Doors, Baillargeon, and Harring. Forte is committed to making every door, every interaction, and every opening unforgettable.