(MINNEAPOLIS) – Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that U.S. Bank Plaza in Minneapolis has received Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Existing Buildings (EB) Rating System.
The 22 and 40-story, Class A office towers are located in the heart of the city’s Central Business District. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, U.S. Bank Plaza contains 1.3 million rentable square feet and was completed in 1981.
Green features implemented at U.S. Bank Plaza include: energy-efficient lighting with reduced mercury content; the use of environmentally sensitive cleaning products and practices; reduction of indoor potable water use through low-flow fixtures; and a comprehensive recycling and composting program.
Additionally, Hines offers its proprietary GREEN OFFICE for Tenants program, which assists in giving tenants options to reduce their carbon footprint.
In addition to earning LEED Gold, U.S. Bank Plaza has earned the ENERGY STAR® label every year since 2001. With a current rating of 95, the building is 54 percent more energy efficient when compared to the average U.S. office building.
“U.S. Bank Plaza achieving LEED Gold demonstrates our commitment to the environment, our tenants and the community.
Energy savings, equipment efficiencies, water conservation and recycling programs directly benefit the tenants in terms of lower operating costs,” said Hines Managing Director Bill Chopp.
Hines Global Sustainability Officer Gary Holtzer added, “By achieving LEED certification at U.S. Bank Plaza, the local project team demonstrates to our owners, tenants, prospective tenants and the community that this property is being managed to the highest standards of excellence.”
The building’s tenants played an important role in achieving LEED Gold by participating in transportation and comfort surveys, tracking green purchases and increasing recycling efforts.
The building is leased to a notable tenant roster including, among others:
CliftonLarsonAllen, Ernst & Young; Fredrikson & Byron; Grant Thornton; Henson & Efron; and U. S. Bank.
Hines is one of the most sustainable real estate companies in the world.
In 2013 Hines was recognized by the EPA, for the sixth time, with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award.
In addition, Hines has received the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award three times. Hines manages 151 labelled buildings, representing more than 71 million square feet, in the ENERGY STAR program.
Also, 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 201 projects, representing more than 101 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 1,317 properties representing more than 541 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. Currently, Hines manages 391 properties totaling 161 million square feet, which includes 89.1 million square feet for third parties. With offices in 115 cities in 18 countries, and controlled assets valued at approximately $28.2 billion, Hines is one of the largest real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.
U.S. Bank Plaza