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Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — June 20, 2016 — Stiles Property Management announced that its managed Class A office building in downtown Fort Lauderdale, The AutoNation Building, has been upgraded to LEED Gold certification, a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) distinction was awarded to the building during its five-year recertification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The AutoNation Building (see photo) is one of the most recognized office buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale. A LEED building since 2011, the upgrade further distinguishes AutoNation’s quality and energy-efficient programs. The USGBC awarded the building a Gold certification for Existing Buildings Operations Management (EBOM) for superior energy use, lighting, and water and material conservation, as well as incorporating a variety of sustainable strategies.
“We are incredibly proud to have earned LEED Gold — one of the highest designations of sustainable practices and management,” said Stiles Property Management president Chris Rotolo. “This notable distinction truly demonstrates the continued commitment of the property management team and ownership to maximize the value and performance of this building.”
Located at 200 Southwest 1st Ave. in the Las Olas corridor, The AutoNation Building is a 204,000-square foot, 16-story mixed-use Class A office building with ground-level retail shops adjacent to the Las Olas Riverfront. Developed by Stiles in 2007, the building was one of the first to become LEED certified in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Stiles has since achieved more than 20 LEED certifications for developed, constructed, or managed office and retail projects across its portfolio.
As part of the recertification, Stiles compiled more than 15 months of data on energy use and sustainability practices. According to property manager Megan Purdue, the process took several months to complete.
“As a part of the recertification," she said, "we conducted weekly meter readings to prove utilities efficiency, monthly data collection from tenants to calculate shredding weight, analysis on vendor products and methods to ensure they were LEED compliant, lighting sensor inspections throughout the building, even a tenant automobile study to show the high volume of fuel efficient vehicles, among other things.”
Rotolo said, “Sustainable practices have become a Stiles Property Management standard that has helped to cut down building operating expenses while growing our company in an environmentally conscious way. As a result of our sustainability program, our clients generally achieve a 10 percent reduction in operating expenses only 30 days after we take over an assignment.”
The AutoNation Building incorporates energy-efficient and sustainable features, such as a computer-operated energy management system that controls the air-conditioning and heating while monitoring indoor air quality, electricity-reducing technologies, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and the use of low VOC-emitting paints and sealants.
As one of the most prestigious buildings in the iconic Las Olas area, The AutoNation Building allows easy access to all major highways and airports. It is 91 percent leased to key tenants including AutoNation, EverBank, and The Center for English Studies.
Stiles is a full-service commercial real estate firm that is responsible for more than 43 million square feet of office, residential, industrial, retail, and mixed-use projects throughout Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. For more information, visit www.stiles.com.
