(ATLANTA) – The Atlanta office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that Atlanta Financial Center has received Silver certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® for Existing Buildings (EB) rating system.
Atlanta Financial Center is a prominent 900,000-square-foot office building located in the heart of the city’s Buckhead area. Positioned directly over GA 400, Atlanta Financial Center has a unique black aluminum/glass-frame design and is composed of three interconnected towers: two 13-story towers and a 19-story centerpiece.
Hines has managed the property since acquiring it in 2001.
With a current ENERGY STAR® rating of 76, Atlanta Financial Center is 24 percent more energy efficient and annually saves more than $630,000 in energy costs when compared to the average U.S. office building.
This translates to estimated annual greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to removing 787 passenger vehicles from the road.
Green features and programs include: alternative transportation options for commuters; a notable local partnership with Sustainable Buckhead and the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association; an on-going electronic recycling program; a comprehensive recycling program (including landscape and construction waste); energy-efficient lighting with reduced mercury content; environmentally sensitive cleaning products and practices; and reduction of water use through the utilization of low-flow fixtures. Additionally, Hines offers its proprietary GREEN OFFICE for Tenants program, which assists in giving tenants options to reduce their carbon footprint.
“Certification of Atlanta Financial Center is a testament to our forward-thinking tenants.
Their support of our sustainability programs is the key to the successful implementation of important green initiatives,” said Hines General Manager Brian Eichenseer.
“Hines’ commitment to sustainability has translated into significant cost savings and more productive workplaces for tenants.
Many tenants are developing or have developed their own sustainability policy, and they want to be in buildings and associate with landlords who share similar values,” added Hines’ Global Sustainability Officer Gary Holtzer.
The building is 83 percent leased to a notable tenant roster including:
Morris, Manning & Martin LLP; North American Electric Reliability Corporation; Prudential Insurance Company of America; Robert Half International, Inc.; and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.
Hines is one of the most sustainable real estate companies in the world.
In 2012 Hines was recognized by the EPA, for the fifth time, with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award; Hines manages 146 labeled buildings, representing more than 68 million square feet, in the ENERGY STAR program.
Twelve Hines development or redevelopment projects, representing more than six million square feet, have been designated as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.
Hines is also a leader in the U.S. Green Building Council’s programs, with 195 projects, representing more than 100 million square feet that have been certified, pre-certified or registered under the various LEED rating systems.
Hines was a founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council and the Russian Green Building Council, and is active in the Green Building Council Brasil, the Green Building Council España, the Green Building Council Italia, the Indian Green Building Council, the BRE Environmental Assessment Method program in the United Kingdom and the Haute Qualité Environnementale program in France.
Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm’s historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,147 properties representing more than 462 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments.
With offices in 108 cities in 18 countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $23.4 billion, Hines is one of the largest real estate organizations in the world.
Visit www.hines.com for more information.
To learn more about sustainability at Hines, visit www.hines.com/sustainability.