Renowned Neurotologist Dr. Sanjay Prasad's Metropolitan NeuroEar Group Signs 11-Year 10,000 SF Lease at The Tower Companies' Tower Building

Balance Center of Maryland to Open in Metro Area's First Green Building

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tower Companies announced today that the Metropolitan NeuroEar Group, the practice of world-renowned Doctor Sanjay Prasad, MD, has signed an 11-year, 10,000 SF lease on the 9th floor of The Tower Building, located on the I-270 Tech Corridor in Rockville, MD 20852.

Marshall Besch, COO of the Metropolitan NeuroEar Group, stated, "We're excited to be expanding our practice using the most advanced treatments and excited to be able to do so into such a healthy, and frankly stunning hi-tech office building, that reflects the progress we have made in our field. The Metropolitan NeuroEar Group is a high-end, state of the art center specializing in complicated ear and balance disorders and we chose The Tower Building because its' LEED EB Silver and Energy Star certifications fit with our corporate philosophy perfectly."

The Tower Building, designed by Kishimoto.Gordon.Dalaya.PC, is powered by 100% wind energy and was the first green office building in the Washington metropolitan area when it opened in 2001. In 2003 it was awarded The Apartment and Office Building Association's prestigious "Green Office Building of the Year" award.  In 2004 it was the subject of Case Studies by the Urban Land Institute (Case Study number C034003), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for its advanced sustainable features; years before the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.  In 2009, The Tower Building achieved LEED Silver certification. The "smart" and "green" Tower Building's landmark iconic elliptical structure, bisected by a sweeping, curved "sail" wall, affords offices with breathtaking 180-degree views. Offices are suffused with natural light while maintaining comfortable interior temperatures. Fresh, charcoal-filtered outdoor air circulates throughout the building once an hour for maximum air quality. While the building exceeds EPA's ENERGY STAR® requirements, it revolutionizes both the form and function of the office building, making it healthy, energy efficient and still the "office of the future."  

Adam Schindler of Studley represented the Metropolitan NeuroEar Group, while CBRE's Andy Cole represented The Tower Companies.  

About Dr. Sanjay Prasad

Dr. Prasad has published numerous articles and book chapters and has spoken on many occasions at both national and international scientific meetings on multiple topics within neurotology and skull base surgery. He is a clinical assistant professor at both Georgetown University Hospital and George Washington University Hospital.

The American Board of Otolaryngology certifies Dr. Prasad with subspecialty certification in neurotology, advanced head and neck oncologic surgery and cranial base surgery. The practice is almost entirely limited to otology, neurotology and head and neck cranial base surgery. The majority of the surgical procedures are performed at John Hopkins Medicine and NIH affiliated Suburban Hospital and Tower Oaks Surgery Center LLC.

About The Tower Building

The Tower Building is the sixth LEED certified project for The Tower Companies.  Rising 10 stories over a campus of lush woodlands and eco-sensitive planning, The Tower Building was recognized as the Washington Metro Region's first new green development.  Construction started in 1999 and completed in 2001.

Amenities include bicycle storage, lockers, showers, fitness center, health food cafe, a meditation/yoga room, onsite parking, and an ATM.  Additionally, beautiful art covers the walls; building grounds feature open fields, tree-filled walking areas and biking trails.  Two bus routes pass by, which provide easy access to two metro train stations.

About The Tower Companies

The Tower Companies, located in Rockville, MD, is a three-generation, award winning, family owned real estate Development Company founded in 1947.  Tower is the largest LEED developer of sustainable properties in the DC area, EPA-certified carbon-neutral and a member of EPA's Climate Leaders, Energy Star and Green Power Partnership programs. Tower built The Blairs, the first LEED certified apartments in America. Their 4.5MM SF portfolio includes office buildings, office parks, apartments, regional malls, residential communities, lifestyle centers, and hotels within the DC area, of which one million SF are green or sustainable projects. Currently, more than 1MM SF are under renovation to meet LEED Gold. Tower has six LEED certified projects, seven are LEED registered; 25% of their employees are LEED Accredited Professionals.

Tower co-developed 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard, the LEED Platinum/Fortune-Creating™/Vedic certified multi-tenant commercial office building, proclaimed by the State as "the healthiest building in Maryland."  It was the subject of a Harvard Case Study entitled: Design Creates Fortune: 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard. Tower's focus on education and outreach to promote innovations and best practices has garnered the company numerous awards, such as:  2010 "40 Environmentalists in 40 Years" Award, Montgomery County Council; 2009 Visionary Award, Washington Business Journal and Board of Trade; 2009 Environmental Excellence Award, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty and DC Department of Energy; and the 2006 and 2003 Green Power Leadership Awards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.

CONTACT:  Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow of The Oliver Group, Inc., +1-202-494-1977/Direct

SOURCE The Tower Companies