2009-06-11 00:26:03 -
South Coast Plaza officials accepted an award designating the offices of South Coast Plaza as the first buildings in California to receive LEED-EB Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for operations and maintenance. The certification applies to the Plaza Tower, Center Tower and Park Tower.
The offices are the first multitenant buildings in California, and three of the
first four buildings in the United States, to be awarded LEED Gold certification by the USGBC for Operations and Maintenance.
As a part of the Green Building Program, the three office towers will reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by over 9.5 million pounds annually and reduce water consumption by over 3 million gallons annually. This is a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of these buildings.
“We are proud to be recognized by the United States Green Building Council as the first company in California and the entire West Coast to have our buildings honored with Gold-level LEED Certification,” said Henry Segerstrom, Managing Partner, The Offices of South Coast Plaza.
“Sound environmental management is good for business and part of our rich heritage as an industry leader who views environmental stewardship as a responsibility to our tenants and to our greater community.”
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Building Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EB O&M) certification program accredits sustainable green buildings through the implementation of universally accepted tools and performance criteria. The LEED-EB O&M rating system identifies and rewards best practices and provides an outline for buildings to conserve natural resources, improve the indoor environment and uncover operational inefficiencies.
“Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The South Coast Plaza project efficiently uses our natural resources and makes an immediate, positive impact on our planet, which will tremendously benefit future generations to come.”
The 462,200-square-foot Center Tower, equal in height to Plaza Tower, is located at 650 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, California. Center Tower uses seven thermal storage units for reduced real-time pricing of its efficiency energy consumption. All the chilled water used during the day to cool the tower is chilled at night when electrical prices are low and stored underground to be used during the heat of the day.
The 337,000-square-foot Park Tower is located at 695 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, California. Park Tower had become known for its operation efficiency, exceptionally high-quality offices, glass atrium lobby, grand public spaces and impressive roster of tenants.
The certification bolsters South Coast Plaza’s commitment to stepping up environmental practices at all of its properties, including South Coast Plaza shopping center. The center, regarded internationally as the crown jewel of shopping on the West Coast, has already been taking vital steps toward the greening of the center.
- Participating in an Edison-sponsored program for energy reduction
- Retrofitting old equipment with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient technology
- Installing new roofs with energy-efficient insulation
- Utilizing reclaimed water for landscaping and a satellite irrigation system for key areas of the property
- Conducting a full recycling program for e-waste, paper waste and green waste
About South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza is the crown jewel of luxury shopping on the West Coast, and is recognized internationally for its unparalleled collection of nearly 300 boutiques, award-winning restaurants, spas and the adjacent world-renowned Orange County Performing Arts Center. Its stellar cast of diverse retailers — from Oscar de la Renta, Balenciaga, Hermès and Harry Winston to Tory Burch, Barneys Co-op, J. Crew, H&M and more — has made it the highest grossing planned retail center in the United States, with annual sales approaching $1.5 billion. South Coast Plaza is located in Orange County, California, in the city of Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.southcoastplaza.com :
or telephone (800) 782-8888.
South Coast PlazaDebra Gunn Downing714-435-2115
