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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Three Valley Properties Obtain LEED Certification

Three commercial properties in the greater San Fernando Valley region recently obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. CB Richard Ellis Investors obtained LEED Gold for its 500 North Brand Blvd. property in Glendale, a 22-story Class A office tower. Hines secured LEED Silver for its five-story, 179,336 square foot office building at 5700 Canoga Ave. in Woodland Hills. And M. David Paul & Associates landed LEED Silver for its Serrano luxury apartment homes and gardens in Encino, a mixed use development located at 16110 Ventura Blvd. “There was never a question of whether we would pursue LEED at 500 North Brand; it was just a matter of whether to go for Silver or Gold certification,” said Debra Greene of CBRE. “But it’s a long and very detailed process.” CBRE started the LEED certification process in approximately the first quarter of 2009. The company sunk $160,000 into replacing all of the building’s toilets to low-flow, replacing lighting fixtures with low mercury and energy efficient bulbs, and landscaping with low water use plants. City rebates offset $40,000 of the total investment. The company operates a recycling program on the premises, a web site to educate tenants on “green” issues, and incorporates environmentally friendly cleaning technology and sustainable purchasing practices. It also had to report recycling practices of demolished suites to obtain LEED certification. Restroom upgrades alone have resulted in saving 2.1 million gallons of water per year. Landscape changes reduced irrigation by 55 percent. And the building recycles 6.75 tons of office paper per year, which is equivalent to saving 625 trees, according to CBRE. “We never did it with the expectation of being able to charge more for the office space,” said Greene. “But what we hope is that it’s something that sets us apart.” CBRE Investors has obtained, or is pursuing, certification on 83 percent of its properties, she added. LEED Silver is the third highest level of certification, Gold and Platinum being the next two levels respectively. To secure Silver for 5700 Canoga in the Woodland Hills/Warner Center submarket, Hines invested into alternative transportation options, energy efficient lighting, reduced nighttime light pollution, low-flow water fixtures and a comprehensive recycling program. Paul Stockwell of CBRE is one of the property’s leasing agents. He and John Sabourin of CBRE recently inked an 18,000 square foot, 10-year lease with a company re-locating from the Sherman Oaks Galleria. The 5700 Canoga property is 66 percent occupied. Stockwell said it’s too early to tell whether LEED certification is attracting new tenants. But it certainly doesn’t hurt as a selling point. “If you’ve got the choice of a LEED certified building versus a non-certified one, for roughly the same price, why wouldn’t you go into the LEED building?” he said. M. David Paul & Associates’ Serrano development includes 51 residential apartment units and 21,000 square feet of retail space. Walgreen’s and John O’Groats restaurant occupy the majority of the retail space, and there is still 1,600 square feet that’s vacant. Serrano is one of the first apartment complexes in the Valley to receive LEED Silver certification. The company broke ground on the mixed-use project in 2007 after a two-year planning process, and opened Serrano in June 2009. It did not tap any of the city’s financial incentives for going green. Why go through the rigors of getting certified? “As a company, we’ve been doing projects with (environmentally friendly features) for years, and we figured now is the time to get credit for something we’ve already been doing,” said Paul Krueger, development manager for M. David Paul & Associates. “It’s also about giving tenants efficiency and savings on their monthly utilities,” he added. The company tracked waste practices during construction; installed tankless water heaters; increased each apartment’s insulation and air tightness; installed energy efficient appliances; used drip irrigation and low water use plants for landscaping; installed a water catchment system; and used low volatile organic compound interior finishes.

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