MILWAUKEE, April 22, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Manpower Inc.'s world headquarters has achieved Gold status under the LEED certification system--the first new building in Milwaukee, WI, to earn that distinction. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), serves as the benchmark in green building design, construction, operation and maintenance. LEED has grown to encompass more than 14,000 projects in the 50 States and 30 countries.

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"This distinction of honor is a point of pride for all of us, and it serves as an inspiration to the community and our industry," said Jeff Joerres, Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO. "Paying attention to our environmental profile is an essential part of our role as a corporate citizen. A physical demonstration of the contemporary world of work based here in Milwaukee, the Manpower Experience at our world headquarters should allow people to come away with a total understanding of our brand culture and values that they can take back home with them, wherever that may be."

Manpower's energy-efficient headquarters represents a triumph of vision and execution. In keeping with the company's 60-year tradition of responsibility toward its community, the project was conceived with LEED certification in mind. Kahler Slater served as the LEED Accredited Professional of Record on the project, with architect David Plank leading the certification process. Plank worked with a diverse team of other LEED accredited consultants, including general contractor Gilbane, IBC Engineering, Staff Electric, mechanical and plumbing contractor Grunau Company, building architect Epstein Uhen and interior designers at Kahler Slater, to ensure environmentally sound options were a primary focus even in the early phases of design.

"We developed a plan to examine what our brand stands for and what was important to the people of Manpower as it related to the design of the building," said Mara Swan, Manpower Inc. Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Talent, and executive leader for the building design and development. "We feel strongly that our employees, clients and community should be able to see how the design and structure of our headquarters aligns with our identity and business philosophy, as well as serves as a reflection of the company and services that we offer today."

Manpower also engaged Johnson Controls as the project manager to execute the design of the building. Johnson Controls consulted the company on selection of the appropriate building equipment and materials to ensure Manpower achieved the necessary balance of meeting its design principles, LEED certification, as well as project budget and timeline. Johnson Controls' Milwaukee-based headquarters is certified as a LEED gold existing building.

"The plan included baseline design elements that were 'green' without being overly exotic or expensive," explained Plank. "This is the sort of design that other corporations can take a cue from, that you can be eco-friendly while creating a space that supports productivity and is fiscally responsible."

The 280,000 square-foot, four-story building has been home to 900 Manpower and Jefferson Wells employees since September of 2007. Its impressive layout consists of a client center, state-of-the-art learning center and cafeteria in the first floor and staff workspace in the upper floors. The elements that contributed to LEED Gold certification include:

    --  Efficient plumbing fixtures mean the building uses 40 percent less water
        than a similar conventional building.
    --  Energy savings of 22 percent achieved through a combination of
        enhancements to the building's exterior, lighting and mechanical
        systems.
    --  Recycled content makes up for more than 10 percent of the building
        materials.
    --  All building materials, right down to the office chairs, contain low
        volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to improve indoor air quality.
    --  More than half of the wood used in construction was harvested from
        forests that are sustainably managed and certified by the Forest
        Stewardship Council.
    --  More than 60 percent of the building materials were manufactured
        locally, reducing fuel costs.

    --  Ninety percent of the workspace has direct visual access to views of the
        outdoors.

The design also earned points on the LEED application because of the building's location -- in a dense urban environment rather than contributing to urban sprawl -- and the fact that the plot of land on which it sits was an empty lot that was cleaned up by the company.

About Manpower, Inc.

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. Founded in 1948, the $22 billion company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,200 offices in 82 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com.

About Kahler Slater

Kahler Slater, founded a century ago, has a national reputation for designing environments and the experiences that happen in those environments by offering clients an interdisciplinary approach that includes vision and brand alignment, research, architecture, interior design, graphic design, and communications services. The firm operates five offices in Wisconsin and North Carolina. A portfolio of Kahler Slater's work may be found on the Web at www.kahlerslater.com.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 130,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.

SOURCE Manpower Inc.

http://www.manpower.com

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