First Potomac Realty Trust Receives LEED Platinum Certification For 440 First Street, NW

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO), a leading owner of office and business park properties in the greater Washington, D.C. area, today announced that 440 First Street, NW was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum Core & Shell (LEED CS Platinum) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building is also the first in Washington, D.C. to utilize a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS).

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Located in the prominent Capitol Hill submarket, 440 First Street is only the ninth LEED CS Platinum certified building in Washington, D.C. The LEED Platinum designation recognizes a building's sustainable design and construction practices, which increase profitability while reducing a building's negative environmental impact.

"This distinction reinforces First Potomac's commitment to promote efficient and advanced technologies that are beneficial to both the environment and our tenants," stated Douglas J. Donatelli, Chairman and CEO of First Potomac Realty Trust. "A LEED Platinum certification for 440 First Street, NW is another tool in attracting tenants as they continue to seek newer buildings that are energy-efficient and well-located in strong submarkets with access to amenities and transportation." 

The 140,000-square-foot, Class A redeveloped building boasts a glass curtain wall design that allows an abundance of natural light into the space and provides views of the Capitol and the Washington Monument.  440 First Street also features two rooftop terraces, a conference center/boardroom, a state-of-the-art fitness center and underground parking, as well as ground floor retail and restaurant space.

440 First Street utilizes the first ever DOAS HVAC system in Washington, D.C. The installation by First Potomac makes use of an innovative HVAC system that provides a superior level of air quality for tenants and uses far less energy than a traditional HVAC system.  

While the LEED CS Platinum certification represents one of First Potomac's most significant environmental accomplishments, 440 First Street adds to First Potomac's continually growing list of energy-efficient buildings. Three Flint Hill, First Potomac's award-winning redevelopment project in Oakton, VA, achieved LEED Gold certification in 2012, joining four other Gold-certified First Potomac buildings in Maryland and Virginia. In November, First Potomac announced that three of its buildings in Chesapeake, VA received Energy Star Certification, adding to the Company's three Washington, D.C. buildings that earned the Energy Star Certification in 2012. As a result, First Potomac now has almost 1.7 million square feet of LEED or Energy Star certified office space, and 55% of First Potomac's multi-story office portfolio is either LEED or Energy Star Certified.

About First Potomac Realty Trust

First Potomac Realty Trust is a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust that focuses on owning, operating, developing and redeveloping office and business park properties in the greater Washington, D.C. region. As of September 30, 2013, the Company's consolidated portfolio totaled approximately 9 million square feet. Based on annualized cash basis rent, the Company's portfolio consists of 51% office properties and 49% business park and industrial properties. A key element of First Potomac's overarching strategy is its dedication to sustainability. Over  one  million square feet of First Potomac property is LEED Certified, with the potential for another 700,000 square feet in future development projects. Approximately half of the portfolio's multi-story office square footage is LEED or Energy Star Certified. FPO common shares (NYSE:FPO) and preferred shares (NYSE:FPO-PA) are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Media Contact:
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SOURCE First Potomac Realty Trust