Philly Green Update

In the 2010s, sustainable buildings seem to have a small edge in attracting tenants. By the 2020s, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank senior managing director Jack Soloff tells us, thats going to be a much bigger edge. (By the '20s the edge will hopefully also go to flying skateboards.)

As todays young workers become the corporate leaders of tomorrow, theyll put a greater emphasis on environmental responsibility, giving LEED buildings a further competitive advantage, Jack says. More importantly, those buildings that excel, that commit to the highest standard, going whole-hog for Platinum, that is--should be at the front of the pack, he predicts (which makes us wonder: whats going to be higher than Platinum someday? Rhodium? Upsidaisium?).

University Place Associates 2.0 University Place, which is nearing completion, will soon be greater Philadelphias newest LEED Platinum building, which will save 30% or more on energy costs,besides embodying environmentally responsible building practices. US Facilities, a facilities management specialist, recently inked a lease for 15k SF at the building to serve as its HQ come fall. Jack, along with colleagues Craig Scheuerle and Matthew Guerrieri, repped the landlord in the deal.

Ground was broken recently on a separate Philly green project, the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub (EEB Hub), comprised of two new buildings at The Navy Yard. Penn State University is developing the buildings to advance the EEB Hubs dual missionreducing regional energy use in existing commercial buildings by 20% by 2020, and promoting regional economic growth. The EEB Hub will include a full-spectrum retrofit to Building 661, a 38k SF former Navy recreational center, as well as a 25k SF new building for the Penn State Center for Building Energy Education and Innovation. Both the Nittany Lion and Mayor Nutter were on hand to turn some dirt. (Not to nitpick here, but lions don't have opposable thumbs.)