La Palmera On Track To Be The First Leed-Silver Enclosed Mall In U.S.
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 March 2009 10:42
LA PALMERA ON TRACK TO BE FIRST LEED-SILVER ENCLOSED MALL IN U.S.
Environmental ranking in line with company’s goal for all Trademark developments
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (March 29, 2009) – Trademark Property announced La Palmera, its million-square-foot rebranded mall acquired in 2008 in partnership with IMI, has been pre-certified LEED-Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first publicly registered enclosed mall in the U.S. to receive the prestigious designation.
An estimated $50 million floor-to-ceiling renovation of the nearly 40-year-old mall, which began in 2008, is nearing completion.
La Palmera’s LEED-Silver certification is the third highest level in the LEED rating system. This means that, in addition to aesthetic changes, the redevelopment design plans are meant to reduce the mall’s impact on the environment through improved water and energy efficiency, and higher indoor air quality for shoppers and tenants. The commitment to greener building practices reflects the purpose of Trademark Property Company: to enhance communities, enrich lives and be extraordinary stewards.
“We are actively working to implement similar efforts in our entire portfolioand are extremely proud of what we are doing with La Palmera,” said Trademark Property Founding Partner Terry Montesi. “We challenged our builders, designers and engineers to set a new standard for mall redesign. We are proud to lead the way for this type of redevelopment and are ready to show off the finished product..”
The U.S. Green Building Council sets “green” guidelines and provides LEED certification, applicableto design, construction and the ongoing operation of high performance green buildings. Pre-certification is based on dozens of the plan’s design elements that are reviewed and awarded points to determine the project’s eligibility and initial ranking.
Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm , Trademark’s 52-acre mixed use development in Allen, Texas, is also LEED certified, the first large “green” mixed-use retail development in the state of Texas to receive the designation.
Qualifying categories and examples of La Palmera’s LEED-Silver qualifying features include:
Sustainable Sites-- Reuseof an existing structure and preservation of the surrounding environment
- Just steps away from public transportation reducing the dependence on automobiles
- Bicycle racks provided to encourage use of alternative transportation
- Providing preferred parking for low-emitting vehicle (LEV) and fuel-efficient vehicles
Water Efficiency-- Being mindful of the public water supply
- Landscaping with native and adapted vegetation toreduce the need for and use of municipal water
- High-efficiency irrigation systems saving over 50% of municipal water usage
- More than 30% reduction 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
- Incorporation of highly efficient HVAC and lighting systems
- A 14% energy savings compared to baseline (typically built project)
- 35% reduction of energy use through higher efficiency products including low energy lighting and improved HVAC systems
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
- 75% of construction waste diverted from the landfills during construction
- 10% of construction materials incorporate recycled content
- 20% of construction materials are from regional resources
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, which utilizes low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) materials such as paints, adhesives, sealants and carpets
“Green” design and construction costs typically run an average of only 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 know it may cost us a little extra up front to implement ‘green’ standards within our projects, but in the long run, it is certainly worth the effort,”said Montesi.
Founded in 1991, Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. has developed or acquired over $1.3 billion worth of retail and mixed-use space. Trademark is currently one of the premier mixed-use developer/operators in the country having completed over seven million square feet of retail and mixed-use development/redevelopment projects.
For more information, visit www.lapalmera.com or www.trademarkproperty.com.
# # #
