2013-01-30 23:37:39 -
Secures LEED Gold Certification at US Bancorp Center in Minneapolis
Earns BOMA 360 Designation for 15 Buildings in Fourth Quarter
Acclaims Energy Star Certification for over 75% of National Office Portfolio
MINNEAPOLIS and ATLANTA - January 30, 2013 - Piedmont Office Realty Trust (NYSE:
PDM) announced today that it has earned the prestigious LEED-EB (Existing
Building) Gold Certification for its trophy office building, US Bancorp Center,
located at 800 Nicollett Mall in downtown Minneapolis. LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized mark of
excellence which provides a framework for identifying and implementing practical
and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance
solutions.
"We are proud to announce the achievement of LEED-EB Gold certification at our
landmark property in downtown Minneapolis," said David Dabson, Piedmont's
General Manager at US Bancorp Center. "Our dedication to green practices and
the energy savings initiatives implemented during the certification process have
become part of our standard operating procedures at the building, benefitting
both our tenants, in terms of lower energy costs, and the environment," added
Dabson.
The addition of US Bancorp Center to Piedmont's roster of LEED certified
properties brings the Company's total LEED certified properties to six across
its national portfolio. Other properties receiving the certification include
500 West Monroe Street, a trophy tower located in Chicago's West Loop, and 400
TownPark, a property located in the desirable Lake Mary submarket of Orlando.
BOMA 360 Designation
Additionally, Piedmont announced that 25 of its buildings earned the BOMA
(Building Owners and Managers Association) 360 designation in 2012. Currently,
44 properties in total, or approximately 60% of its national portfolio, have
achieved this designation which recognizes commercial properties demonstrating
best practices in building operations, energy conservation, property management,
and sustainability. Piedmont's goal is to pursue the BOMA 360 designation for
all eligible Piedmont-managed office buildings over the next several years.
"The BOMA 360 program appeals to us because it analyzes multiple facets of the
property management process," commented Kevin Fossum, RPA, Senior Vice
President, Property Management for Piedmont Office Realty Trust. "Given the
distinguished reputation of the program recognizing superior operations on
behalf of building tenants, we believe that achieving our BOMA 360 goal will
continue to differentiate Piedmont among the end user and tenant representative
communities," concluded Fossum.
Energy Star Certification
As an Energy Star Partner, almost 79% of Piedmont's office portfolio has earned
the Energy Star Label, including six new building additions in 2012. Energy
Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the U.S. Department of Energy, designed to protect the environment through
energy efficient products and practices.
Piedmont buildings which have earned both the BOMA 360 designation and Energy
Star certification in select markets include:
Atlanta
Glenridge Highlands Two
Chicago
Aon Center
500 West Monroe
Two Pierce Place
Windy Point I
2300 Cabot Drive
Dallas
6031 Connection Drive
Las Colinas Corporate Center I & II
3900 Dallas Parkway
Houston
1430 Enclave Parkway
Los Angeles
800 North Brand Boulevard
1901 Main Street
1055 East Colorado Boulevard
Fairway Center II
Minneapolis
US Bancorp Center
One and Two Meridian Crossings
Crescent Ridge Corporate Center II
New York/New Jersey
60 Broad Street
200 & 400 Bridgewater Crossing
Washington, DC
One and Two Independence Square
1201 and 1225 Eye Street
400 Virginia Avenue
4250 North Fairfax Drive
Piedmont Pointe I
9200 Corporate Boulevard
"We are proud to share these accomplishments with our customers, shareholders
and employees," said C.A. "Bo" Reddic, IV, Executive Vice-President of Real
Estate Operations for Piedmont. "The achievements we have earned in all three
areas of LEED, BOMA 360 and Energy Star demonstrate our ongoing commitment to
sustainability and operational excellence. Much credit for our success goes to
Jason Williams, who leads our sustainability efforts, working in conjunction
with our regional property management teams. Their combined efforts ensure that
we operate our buildings in a superior and environmentally sensitive manner,
which, in turn, increases our competitiveness in attracting quality, credit
tenants," added Reddic.
About Piedmont: Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: PDM) is a fully-
integrated and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in
high-quality, Class A office properties located primarily in the ten largest
U.S. office markets, including Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles,
Boston, and Dallas. As of December 31, 2012, Piedmont's 74 wholly-owned office
buildings were comprised of over 20 million rentable square feet. The Company is
headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with local management offices in each of its major
markets. Piedmont is investment-grade rated by Standard & Poor's and Moody's and
has maintained a low-leverage strategy while acquiring and disposing of
properties during its fourteen year operating history. For more information,
see www.piedmontreit.com
Contact: Kerry Hughes
Company: Piedmont Office Realty Trust
Phone: 1 770 418 8678
Email: Kerry.Hughes@Piedmontreit.com
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Source: Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. via Thomson Reuters ONE
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