Behringer Harvard Achieves LEED Gold Certification for Three Eldridge Place in Houston, Texas

DALLAS, March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Behringer Harvard announced today that Three Eldridge Place, a newly constructed 13-story office property in the portfolio of Behringer Harvard REIT I, Inc., has recently been awarded LEED® Core and Shell Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

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"This certification is a product of our commitment to operate sustainable office properties that contribute to the well-being of their surrounding communities," said Mr. Greg Brooke, Vice President of Asset Management for Behringer Harvard. "We are particularly proud to own and operate this outstanding property, which promotes high energy efficiency while providing state-of-the-art comfort and amenities for tenants and their guests."

The successful completion of the LEED certification for Three Eldridge Place was supported by the property's architect, Gensler Architects; general contractor, E.E. Reed Construction; and consultants DBR Engineering Consultants and AIR Engineering. The CB Richard Ellis team of John Pruitt, Jessica Ochoa and Kristal Rabel is managing lease-up of the property.  

"Three Eldridge Place is a 'trophy' Class A office building designed for companies that require a first-class environment for their employees," said Mr. John Pruitt, Senior Vice President of CB Richard Ellis. "With its Gold LEED certification and luxurious amenities, Three Eldridge Place offers value that is especially compelling for energy-related corporations in west Houston with a distinct preference for sustainable office space."

The certification was based on a number of green design features that positively impact the property itself and the broader community. The use of recycled materials accounted for approximately 20 percent of overall construction requirements. The architect and the property's management teams also met high standards of sustainability aligned with the LEED model of energy and water conservation, site stewardship and resource efficiency.

Landscape watering requirements have been essentially halved through the use of native plantings and mechanical water control systems that efficiently divert storm water for landscape irrigation. As a result of these and similar conservation practices, Three Eldridge Place has reduced estimated energy consumption to approximately 10.5 percent below average levels and earned the ENERGY STAR® label.

Sustainability initiatives focused on the creation of "green" working environments that maximize natural daylight and reduce overall energy costs passed through to tenants. Indoor air quality was enhanced by low-emitting building materials, pollutant control systems and chemically-safe cleaning products and practices. In addition to lower energy costs, these programs promote employee health and productivity. Potential benefits for tenants include higher employee satisfaction, lower absenteeism and reduced medical costs.

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. Lawson Commons in St. Paul, Minn. has achieved LEED EB O&M Silver certification. Westway One 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.

About CB Richard Ellis

CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE: CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world's largest commercial real estate services firm (in terms of 2009 revenue). CB Richard Ellis offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit the Web site at cbre.com.

SOURCE Behringer Harvard