DALLAS, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Behringer Harvard announced today that Lawson Commons, a 13-story office property in the portfolio of Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc., has recently been awarded LEED® Existing Buildings (EB): Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

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"The achievements represented by this LEED certification are considerable," said Mr. Robert S. Aisner, President of Behringer Harvard. "We are pleased to congratulate the property and asset management teams who helped us reach another important milestone in Behringer Harvard's sustainability programs."

LEED certification of Lawson Commons was based on a number of green design features and operational best practices that positively impact the property itself and the broader community. The sustainability programs successfully implemented at Lawson Commons included a high-performance green cleaning program using sustainable cleaning products, green consumable materials and lighting products containing low mercury levels. These programs also helped Lawson Commons achieve the ENERGY STAR® label with a score of 97 out of a possible 100 points.

The LEED certification efforts for Lawson Commons were supported by the property's architect, BWBR Architects; the managing and leasing agent, Frauenshuh Property and Asset Management; and the building's anchor tenant, Lawson Software. Sustainability is an important part of the culture at Lawson Software, and green initiatives are promoted throughout Lawson's worldwide facilities.

Behringer Harvard has an ongoing commitment to sustainable practices and the company continues to expand its green building initiatives. Another Behringer Harvard property, Bank of America Plaza in Charlotte, N.C., has earned LEED EB O&M Gold certification. In addition, Three Eldridge in Houston, Texas has earned LEED Core and Shell Gold certification, and Westway One, also in Houston, has earned LEED Core and Shell Silver certification. Thirty-four properties owned by Behringer Harvard's investment programs have earned the ENERGY STAR label for prudent energy management strategies, representing 45 percent of the square footage available in Behringer Harvard's office properties.

About Behringer Harvard

Behringer Harvard is a commercial real estate company investing in assets domestically and internationally. The company creates and manages strategic real estate fund opportunities across a wide spectrum of investment styles for retail investors, as well as domestic and international institutions, through its real estate investment trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, and proprietary program structures. For more information, call toll-free 866.655.3600 or visit behringerharvard.com.

SOURCE Behringer Harvard

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