CORAL GABLES, FL – Transwestern’s South Florida office today announced that 255 Alhambra Circle has been awarded “Most Outstanding LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance™ Project” by GalaVerde 2013, South Florida’s LEEDership and Green Awards Program.
This recognition comes less than a year after 255 Alhambra received the distinguished LEED Gold certification by the USGBC in the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance™ green building rating system, an exceptional feat for a building originally constructed in 1974. Situated within the core Central Business District of Coral Gables, 255 Alhambra Circle is a 13-story, 231,000-square-foot, multi-tenant office building with first-floor retail tenants.
“As the first in the industry to make sustainable building operations the norm rather than the exception, we feel that it is our responsibility to be stewards of ‘green’ initiatives in the community,” said Andrea Lopez, senior vice president of management services, Transwestern. “We are honored to have the strategic efforts of Transwestern Sustainability Services and the on-site management staff recognized for the positive impact 255 Alhambra Circle is having on the environment, tenants and visitors.”
This is the second building to receive this award under Transwestern’s stewardship, with the 2011 award going to Ft. Lauderdale’s 391,473-square-foot 110 Tower. The criteria for this recognition include:
- Building occupants’ use of alternative transportation to commute to and from work;
- Water efficiency (utilizing low-flow aerators and low-flush toilets and urinals);
- An ongoing retro-commissioning plan in place to continually test, verify and improve the overall efficiency of the building;
- A high-performance green cleaning program, ensuring no high-hazard chemicals are used, improving indoor environmental quality;
- Comprehensive and ongoing tenant engagement program; and
- Exemplary performance in purchasing 100 percent sustainable cleaning products and materials.
“Currently operating in the top 10 percent of energy efficient buildings nationally, 255 Alhambra is a testament to the overwhelming benefits of creating sustainable and efficient buildings,” said Marta Fernandez, general manager with Transwestern and lead manager for the certification process on behalf of the building’s ownership.
The USGBC’s LEED rating system is the national standard for sustainable buildings. The LEED for Existing Buildings: OM™ rating system helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. The LEED program assigns points for various steps, including efforts in recycling, water and energy efficiency and air quality.
Transwestern has a history of operating some of the most energy efficient properties in the country. Transwestern is committed to ENERGY STAR?, a platinum member of the USGBC and a partner with the Department of Energy and the White House for the Better Buildings Challenge.
ABOUT TRANSWESTERN
Transwestern is a privately held real estate firm specializing in agency leasing, property and facilities management, tenant advisory, capital markets, development, research and sustainability. The fully integrated global enterprise leverages competencies in office, industrial, retail, multifamily and healthcare properties to add value for investors, owners and occupiers of real estate. Transwestern facilitates better decision-making for clients by combining penetrating local market intelligence and macro-market research through its affiliate, Delta Associates. Transwestern has 34 U.S. offices and assists clients through more than 181 offices in 40 countries as part of a strategic alliance with Paris-based BNP Paribas Real Estate. For more information, please visit www.transwestern.net and follow us on Twitter: @Transwestern. Follow Transwestern’s Atlanta office on Twitter: @TranswesternATL.
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