300 North LaSalle Gets Environmental Status

Good news for Hines, and the environment.  Hines sent over a press release today touting the new LEED status for its skyscraper at 300 North LaSalle.  The tower, which opened in 2009, has been awarded LEED Core and Shell Gold status.

Full release follows:

HINES' 300 N. LASALLE'S DOUBLE DESIGNATION - LEED GOLD

AND DESIGNED TO EARN THE ENERGY STAR

(CHICAGO) - The Chicago office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced today that 300 North LaSalle has received Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED^® for Core & Shell rating system.

            The project was also designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR^®, acknowledging the building's superior design intent.  If the building performs as designed, it will be 51 percent more energy efficient than the national average office building, saving nearly one million dollars in energy costs annually.

Developed and owned by Hines, 300 North LaSalle is a dramatic 60-story, 1.5 million-square-foot office tower located on the north bank of the Chicago River.  The glass and steel building was designed by Pickard Chilton and was developed by Hines in 2009.

Sustainable features and programs include: a sophisticated river water cooling system that conserves approximately 10 million gallons of potable water annually; a green roof; comprehensive construction waste recycling; and use of low-VOC adhesives, sealants, paint and carpet, among other things.

Hines Senior Vice President and Project Officer Greg Van Schaack said, "Chicago is known around the world for its elegantly designed skyscrapers, and this tower adds stature and prominence to the city's great skyline while respecting our mission in sustainable design."

Design Principal Jon Pickard added, "Functionality was one of the key design principles for this building.  Forward-thinking companies are continuously shifting to adapt and respond to new opportunities, technologies and employment trends.  We have designed this building with the flexibility to accommodate those needs and done so within a sustainably designed and constructed elegant shell."

300 North LaSalle is 96 percent leased to The Boston Consulting Group, Quarles & Brady LLP, Aviva USA and to anchor tenant Kirkland and Ellis LLP, whose world headquarters is located in the building.  Hines manages the property and oversees its leasing.

Hines is one of the most sustainable real estate companies in the world.  In 2010 Hines was recognized by the EPA, for the third time, with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award; Hines manages 147 labelled buildings, representing approximately 75 million square feet, in the ENERGY STAR program.  Twelve Hines development or redevelopment projects, representing more than six million square feet, have been designated as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.

Hines is also a leader in the U.S. Green Building Council's programs, with 192 projects, representing more than 100 million square feet that have been certified, pre-certified or registered under the various LEED rating systems.  Hines was a founding member of the German Sustainable Building Council and the Russian Green Building Council, and is active in the Green Building Council Brasil, the Green Building Council España, the Green Building Council Italia, the Indian Green Building Council, the BRE Environmental Assessment Method program in the United Kingdom and the Haute Qualité Environnementale program in France.

Hines is a privately owned real estate firm involved in real estate investment, development and property management worldwide. The firm's historical and current portfolio of projects that are underway, completed, acquired and managed for third parties includes 1,111 properties representing more than 451 million square feet of office, residential, mixed-use, industrial, hotel, medical and sports facilities, as well as large, master-planned communities and land developments. Hines has offices in more than 100 cities in 17 countries and controls assets valued at approximately $22.2 billion. Visit www.hines.com for more information. To learn more about sustainability at Hines, visitwww.hines.com/sustainability.