HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – A new 35-story office building in downtown Houston has been awarded LEED Platinum status, a certification indicating it is one of the most sustainable and energy-efficient skyscrapers in the world.
The Bank of America Tower, a 780,000-SF office building at 800 Capitol, uses 32 percent less energy than typical towers, according to Skanska USA Commercial Development, the project’s developer.
The building’s sustainable features include the 24,000-SF green roof park, as well as:
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a 50,000-gallon rainwater collection system for reuse in landscape irrigation and restrooms;
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secured bicycle storage room with access to lockers and showers;
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one block proximity to three MetroRail stations;
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90 percent access to daylight and views for tenants;
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a high-performance façade that significantly reduces solar heat gain;
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an energy recovery wheel to precondition fresh air intake; and
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district cooling to provide chilled water throughout the facility, which lowers cooling costs and offers unlimited service capacity to tenants.
Designed by architectural firm Gensler, Bank of America Tower has 754,000 SF of office space and the 35,000-SF Understory, below-grade hub that includes a full-service restaurant and a 9,000-SF culinary market.
“We are honored that Bank of America Tower has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as the first LEED v4 Platinum Core & Shell certified project in the United States,” said Matt Damborsky of Skanska.
In addition to the bank, the tower, which opened this summer, is occupied by Winston and Strawn, Waste Management and Quantum Energy Partners. Some space remains vacant and is being presented to prospective tenants.
Skanska said the tower is “the first commercial office development in Houston to achieve LEED Platinum under the United States Green Building Council’s current Core & Shell certification program, has also been recognized as the largest LEED v4 Platinum Core & Shell project in the world.”
Skanska’s parent company is Skanska AB, headquartered in Stockholm, is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The firm had total global revenue of $20 billion in 2018.
Aug. 1, 2019 Realty News Report Copyright 2019
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