West Health Policy Center Signs 7-year Lease at Tower Companies' LEED Certified & Energy Star Rated 1909 K Street

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Tower Companies announced today that the West Health Policy Center, an independently funded nonprofit, non-partisan organization, whose single aim is to lower health care costs, has signed a seven-year lease at USGBC LEED® certified and ENERGY STAR® rated 1909 K Street, the first multi-tenant commercial office building in DC to achieve LEED for Existing Building certification in 2009.

Launched by philanthropic pioneers Gary and Mary West, The Policy Center is part of the West Health Initiative that also includes the West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) and the West Health Investment Fund. These separate vehicles share a similar mission to lower health care costs by leveraging medical research, innovation, education, and investment to spur a low-cost health care ecosystem.

"We wanted to locate our new policy center in an environmentally responsible building with sustainable design features in order to provide a healthy, efficient and enjoyable work space for our employees," said Don Casey, Chairman of the West Health Policy Center.  "The Tower Company's commitment to those principles is a key reason why we selected 1909 K Street as our DC home."

"West Health Policy Center is undertaking vital work in the Nation's Capital to lower health care costs which will impact every sector of our global community, so we're extremely honored to have them as our new tenant," stated Tower partner, Jeffrey S. Abramson.  

John Filipos and Matthew Plunkett from CB Richard Ellis represented West Health Policy Center and Randy Harrell of CB Richard Ellis represented the owners.

About Gary & Mary West
Gary and Mary West are entrepreneurs and philanthropic pioneers with a commitment to creating an entirely new ecosystem to lower health care costs through technology and innovation. The couple's passion is rooted in their experience building a world-class company with more than 35,000 employees, which made them acutely aware of the pressing need to do something about the rising and unsustainable cost of health care in the United States.

The Wests have founded numerous companies over the last four decades, including West Corporation, which became one of the largest customer relationship management providers in the world with more than $3.5 billion in annual sales and was taken private in 2006. Since then, the couple established the Gary and Mary West Wireless Health Institute in 2009 and the West Health Investment Fund in 2011.

About The Tower Companies
The Tower Company is a closely held, award winning real estate Development Company founded by Albert Abramson in 1947; named "2010 Awards of Excellence Development Company of the Year," by Multi Housing News for their corporate green initiatives and outreach.  Tower is EPA certified carbon-neutral and a member of ENERGY STAR and Green Power Partnership programs.  Tower is also the first Real Estate Development Company to become Climate Registered with The Climate Registry.  Tower has developed 4.5 million square feet of office buildings, office parks, 1,400 apartments, regional malls, residential communities, lifestyle centers, and hotels within the DC area. Of this total, 1.5 million square feet are LEED® certified sustainable buildings and another 3 million square feet are in the planning stages. Three of the eleven certified properties are Platinum.  For more information, please visit:  towercompanies.com

About 1909 K Street/The Millennium
The building is a 236,000 SF, Energy Star® rated, high-performance, first LEED EB certified office building (2009), located on the premier corner of DC's Golden Triangle Business District and within walking distance of the White House.  The building's sophisticated interiors features an elegant pear-wood paneled lobby, full service on-site concierge, gleaming marbled floors, original sculpture garden and arboretum, original art, beautiful music, individual meters on every floor, and a rooftop deck and garden, with breathtaking 360-degree views of the city.  Serving as an icon for green corporate values, 1909 K also offers Executive SmartSuites®, is 16% more energy efficient than comparable class A's and uses 100% wind power and 23% less water. With a 360-degree perimeter of low-e glass, thermal comfort is assured with a minimum of heat gain and loss. Green cleaning practices are used throughout the building.

The building has access to public transportation, and offers bicycle storage and changing rooms.  Other amenities include a state-of-the-art ROI Fitness and Wellness Center and 100% underground parking, and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCs).  Teatro Goldoni, an authentic Venetian-inspired restaurant named one of Washington Magazine's "100 Very Best Restaurants" is conveniently located on the lobby level.  

Contact: Elizabeth Oliver-Farrow
[email protected]
Direct: 202.494.1977

SOURCE The Tower Companies