LEED Silver certification means improved environment for shoppers and tenants
CONTACT
Celena McGuill
cmcguill@trademarkproperty.com
361.991.3755
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (July 7, 2011) – Trademark Property today announced La Palmera, has been awarded LEED® Silver for Core and Shell 2.0 established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Acquired in partnership with International Mall Investors in July 2008, the 1-million-square-foot regional mall located in Corpus Christi is the first in the U.S. to receive the prestigious designation.
“We are very pleased to receive LEED Silver certification for La Palmera,” said Trademark Property Chairman-CEO Terry Montesi. “This means that, in addition to aesthetic changes, the redevelopment design also reduces the mall’s impact on the environment through improved water and energy efficiency, and higher indoor air quality for shoppers and tenants. The plans we put into place benefit everyone”
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. La Palmera’s project plans and final construction elements of the $50 million renovation were reviewed by the GBCI, a third party, to determine the appropriate level of LEED certification.
“La Palmera’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said U.S. Green Building Council President, CEO & Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi. “The urgency of USGBC’s mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further than ever before, and La Palmera serves as a prime example with just how much we can accomplish.”
LEED recipients must qualify in five categories to be certified: sustainable site, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Although some efforts are not visible to shoppers, many are, including a mall-wide recycling program, preferred parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles as well as the installation of native and adapted landscaping.
Following are the five qualifying LEED categories and examples of how they impact shoppers and tenants.
Sustainable Sites – Reuse of an existing structure and preservation of the surrounding environment
• Just steps away from public transportation reducing the dependence on automobiles
• Bicycle racks provided for those choosing to use alternative transportation
• Preferred parking spaces for low-emitting vehicle (LEV) and fuel-efficient vehicles
Water Efficiency – Being mindful of the public water supply
• Landscaping with native and adapted vegetation reducing the need for and use of municipal water
• High-efficiency irrigation systems saving 52% of municipal water usage
• A 46% reduction (3,000 gallons a day) in potable water use by the implementation of high-efficiency fixtures including lavatory faucets, urinals, and toilets
Energy & Atmosphere – Using electricity more efficiently while reducing pollutants released into the atmosphere
• The installation of highly efficient HVAC and lighting systems, including new windows and solar tubes, has reduced the mall’s energy use by 35%.
Materials & Resources – Using renewable resources and creating less waste
• Reusing 95% of the building reduces its carbon footprint by minimizing the amount of new materials required for renovations and minimizing the amount of waste going into the landfills
• 85% of construction waste was diverted away from landfills by being reused or recycled
• A third of the construction material came from regional resources and incorporates recycled content
• A mall-wide recycling program for tenants and shoppers
Indoor Environmental Quality – Improved environmental quality for improved health
• Tobacco smoke-free environment
• Increased use of natural lighting
• Improved indoor air quality through the Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan and construction criteria, which restricts the use of low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) materials in products such as paints, adhesives, sealants and carpets
As part of their requirements for LEED certification, La Palmera has developed a “green” tour showcasing the various LEED efforts incorporated into the mall and highlighting their benefits. The tours are free to the public and may be arranged by contacting Concierge. Signage has been installed throughout the property to educate guests on the mall’s green efforts.
Green design and construction costs typically run an average of 3-5% over traditional methods. However, because of the design, cost savings begin immediately and are ongoing with the return on investment often met and surpassed in a relatively short amount of time.
“We are actively working to implement similar efforts in our entire portfolio and are extremely proud of what we have done with La Palmera,” said Montesi. “We challenged our builders, designers and engineers to set a new standard for mall redesign and are proud to lead the way for this type of redevelopment.”
LA PALMERA
Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, La Palmera is a 1-million square foot super-regional mall with more than 100 retail and restaurant tenants including Dillard’s, JCPenney and Macy’s. Obtained in July 2008 by Trademark Property, La Palmera is the first mall to be certified LEED-CS Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council. Following a $50 million renovation, the mall features a new outdoor main entrance featuring P.F. Chang’s and Grimaldi’s, 600-seat food court with a 4,500-gallon feature aquarium and a children’s ocean-themed play area. For more information on La Palmera, go to lapalmera.com or call 361.991.5718.