Hines’ 12-story, 266,605 sq. ft. office tower is the first building in California and on the West Coast to be certified for silver status by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Core & Shell program, according to the company.

“Hines has a global commitment to sustainable design and development, and our team is excited to incorporate this commitment into our flagship Orange County project,” said Hines West Region Partner Doug Holte. “2211 Michelson is an excellent example of a sustainable, high-performance, energy-efficient building that operates at a lower cost with less environmental impact over time, benefiting tenants, owners and the greater community.”

Green design features of the project include wastewater and water conservation technologies, reduction in the use of electricity through highly efficient lighting and HVAC systems, low-emitting materials, and extensive gardens with 50 new trees and landscaped outdoor workspaces.

Chevron Building Wins the Gold

Koll Development Co. completed a 300,000 sq. ft. office building for Chevron Corp. in St. Tammany Parish and it has received Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. This is Koll’s first project to achieve LEED gold status and the first office building in Louisiana to receive LEED certification, according to the company. The new building, which houses up to 750 employees, is home to Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit.

“As a company, we continue to focus on green development as seen through our national Intellicenter program and our other LEED certified projects,” said Mike Rosamond, senior vice president of KDC. “Chevron strongly believes in a healthy work environment, so seeking our first gold certification on behalf of Chevron was a logical choice and the best way to meet the needs of our client.”

Chevron’s regional building includes sustainable strategies such as under-floor air distribution, monitoring and adjustment of carbon dioxide levels, reflective roofing, energy-efficient glass, wall and roof insulation, and over 51% of the site was protected in its original state or restored to its native habitat upon completion of construction. Building design elements include an open floor plan, an employee dining area, fitness center, conference area, and a structured parking garage that holds approximately 550 vehicles.

Wells Real Estate Funds Greens Portfolio

Five buildings owned by Wells Real Estate Funds have earned the Energy Star designation for efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The buildings awarded are the three-building University Circle complex in East Palo Alto, Calif., Pasadena Corporate Park, and 5 Houston Center, an office tower in downtown Houston.

“As one of the nation’s top office owners, we are committed to making our buildings as energy-efficient as we feasibly can for our tenants, our investors and the environment,” said Scott Meadows, managing director, property services, for Wells Real Estate Funds.  “We’re gratified by these latest recognitions from energy star, because they point to our focus on superior energy performance.”

Wells portfolios now own 14 Energy Star buildings nationwide.  Other buildings include 5995 Opus Parkway in suburban Minneapolis, LakePointe Corporate Center in Charlotte, and Manhattan Towers in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Wells is a partner company to the EPA program.