Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that 609 Main at Texas—a 48-story, 1,073,075-square-foot office tower at the corner of Main and Texas streets in downtown Houston—has been certified Platinum under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED BD+C: Core and Shell Rating System.
609 Main at Texas was developed by the Hines CalPERS Green (HCG) development fund, a partnership that focuses exclusively on developing sustainable office buildings throughout the United States certifiable through the USGBC’s LEED Core & Shell program. This is the same partnership that developed 811 Main, an extremely successful office building also on Main Street.
Hines used LEED consultant Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) to assist with the certification process. Some of the project highlights the team accomplished to achieve this prestigious accreditation include:
- Installed 14 quick-charge charging stations and 64 preferred parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. The base building was also recognized by the USGBC as having exemplary access to public transportation.
- Installed fixtures that were estimated to result in savings of over 3.8 million gallons of potable water per year, relative to a code-type baseline.
- Reduced irrigation water use by 60 percent. Drip irrigation and native plantings contributed to this reduction.
Hines Senior Managing Director John Mooz said, “Through the design, construction and occupancy of 609 Main at Texas, we were committed to delivering the highest-quality building to our tenants, investors and to Houston. This certification confirms that not only is the building striking and iconic, but it is sustainable and efficient as well.”
Designed by the internationally recognized architectural firm Pickard Chilton, the project's north and south façade extend skyward, culminating in a dramatic diagonal crown, creating a new, highly visible downtown landmark. Amenities at the vertically integrated campus include a "hotel-style" lobby with a café and spaces for networking; a 7,000-square-foot high-performance fitness center and 8,000-square-foot conference center; full-height windows allowing for an abundance of natural light throughout the building; a sophisticated underfloor HVAC system; and private roof gardens in select tenant spaces.
Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 207 cities in 24 countries. Hines has approximately $116.4 billion of assets under management, including $64 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $52.4 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. The firm has 109 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,319 properties, totaling over 431 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 527 properties, representing over 224 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.
