August 21, 2012
Office tower’s environmental performance recognized
Vancouver, BC – Park Place has been awarded LEED® EB: O&M Gold certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Canada 2009 program. Owned by British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC), this 35-storey 593,000 square foot Class A office tower is the first in Vancouver’s downtown core to receive LEED® Canada EB: O&M 2009 Gold certification to date.
“An important bcIMC objective has been achieved by securing LEED Gold at Park Place in Vancouver. The certification confirms that sustainable best practices are in place at the property and is an indication of our commitment to environmental stewardship within our real estate portfolio,” said Mary Garden, vice president, real estate, bcIMC. “Tenant collaboration was very important in helping to achieve this prestigious certificate. We thank our tenants for their support and celebrate this achievement with them.”
Tenants occupying Park Place enjoy the benefits of a LEED® EB: O&M building — conducting business in a productive environment, and reporting a variety of measurable operational savings. To reach LEED® EB: O&M Gold certification standards, several targeted initiatives were implemented.
- An ongoing energy saving program that is projected to decrease overall building GHG emissions by 12 per cent between 2010 and 2011, with further reductions expected as a result of continuous energy conservation efforts. Currently Park Place is more energy efficient than 80 per cent of commercial buildings, as benchmarked by the US EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
- A water management program reduced flow fixture water consumption by 30 per cent as benchmarked by LEED®.
- A recycling program increased waste diverted away from landfills by 18 per cent between June 2011 and 2012, to its current rate of 66 per cent.
- A comprehensive indoor air quality program has significantly improved occupant comfort.
Park Place is one of Vancouver’s most prestigious office buildings, situated in the heart of the financial district just steps from the city’s prominent business clubs, fine restaurants, hotels, theatres and shopping centres. GWL Realty Advisors manages Park Place on behalf of bcIMC.
LEED® is a third-party certification program and an internationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Administered in Canada by the Canada Green Building Council, the LEED® EB: O&M program uses a rating system to promote a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in key areas of human and environmental health, including water and energy efficiency, and indoor air quality.
