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ASB’s 455 Massachusetts Avenue Achieves LEED® Platinum in Washington, DC

Saturday August 24, 2013

Cassidy Turley Sustainability Services Led Process to Achieve Highest Level of LEED Certification

Washington, DC – Cassidy Turley, a leading commercial real estate services provider in the U.S., and ASB Real Estate Investments announced today that 455 Massachusetts Avenue, owned by an ASB-managed institutional real estate fund, has achieved LEED for Existing Buildings Platinum certification in Washington, DC. The Cassidy Turley Sustainability Services team led the effort.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED Platinum certification is the highest level of certification in this program and demonstrates the building’s commitment to implementing practical and measureable strategies aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable operations and indoor environmental quality.

Robert Bellinger, President and CEO of ASB Real Estate Investments, said, “Attaining LEED Platinum certification for 455 Massachusetts Avenue underscores ASB’s overall commitment to our tenants and investors in providing facilities with attractive and highly sought after working environments.”

“We are pleased to support ASB’s goal to create a more sustainable and efficient workplace for the tenants at 455 Massachusetts Avenue,” commented Michael Alexander, Sustainability Project Manager with Cassidy Turley. “Their dedication to providing a sustainable workplace for tenants demonstrates their commitment and leadership of green building initiatives as an owner in Washington, DC.”

455 Massachusetts Avenue is a Class A, 243,265-square-foot office building located in the East End’s Mount Vernon Triangle submarket of Washington, DC. The building is within short walking distance of the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station and the many shopping, dining, cultural venues and public spaces that the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood has to offer. It is proximate to Union Station, I-395 and Capitol Hill. The building features floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls, offering three sides of glass; a rooftop terrace with Capitol views; and a four-level parking structure, offering one parking space per 1,250 square feet leased. Major tenants include Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), McBee Strategic Consulting and Lutron.

“The strength of USGBC has always been the collective strength of our leaders in the building industry,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role of the building industry in that effort, ASB Real Estate Investments demonstrated its leadership through their LEED certification of 455 Massachusetts Avenue.”

Notable sustainability enhancements at 455 Massachusetts Avenue include:

  • ENERGY STAR certification
  • Implemented several energy conservation measures designed to reduce energy consumption and improve occupant comfort
  • Protected offsite open habitat to preserve open land for the future
  • Instituted a landscaping program designed to minimize irrigation water use and utilize environmentally friendly landscaping practices
  • Retrofitted water-efficient fixtures throughout the building
  • Executed a robust recycling program designed to ensure waste is diverted from landfills

455 Massachusetts Avenue was awarded the 2013 AOBA (Apartment and Office Building Association) TOBY® Award in the 100,000 – 249,000 square foot building category. In addition, the building was The Grand TOBY® winner of the evening.

About ASB Real Estate Investments
ASB Real Estate Investments (ASB), a division of ASB Capital Management, LLC, is a leading U.S. real estate investment management firm with more than $4.0 billion in gross assets under management for approximately 200 institutional clients. Headquartered in Washington DC, ASB invests in major urban markets across the country, concentrating in office, multi-family, retail and industrial properties. Applying a disciplined approach, ASB manages core, value-add and development strategies. ASB’s portfolios are comprised of 224 properties totaling over 15 million square feet in 14 markets throughout the United States.

About U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 32,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising over 9.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About Cassidy Turley
Cassidy Turley is a leading commercial real estate services provider with more than 3,800 professionals in more than 60 offices nationwide. With headquarters in Washington, DC, the company represents a wide range of clients—from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, from local non-profits to major institutions. The firm completed transactions valued at $22 billion in 2012, manages approximately 400 million square feet on behalf of institutional, corporate and private clients and supports more than 23,000 domestic corporate services locations. Cassidy Turley serves owners, investors and tenants with a full spectrum of integrated commercial real estate services—including capital markets, tenant representation, corporate services, project leasing, property management, project and development services, and research and consulting. Cassidy Turley enhances its global service delivery outside North America through a partnership with GVA, giving clients access to commercial real estate professionals in 65 international markets. Please visit www.cassidyturley.com for more information about Cassidy Turley.