Using 32% less energy than a typical office building, the Bank of America Tower built by Skanska in Houston has been recognised by US Green Building Council (USGBC) as the first LEED v4 Platinum Core & Shell certified project in the US.
With a total of 780,000 square feet, the tower has also been recognised as the largest LEED v4 Platinum Core & Shell project in the world.Â
Sustainable features of the Gensler-designed tower include a 50,000-gallon rainwater collection system for reuse in landscape irrigation and restrooms; an energy recovery wheel to precondition fresh air intake; and district cooling to provide chilled water throughout the facility.
Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska’s commercial development operations in Houston, said: "Sustainability is fundamental to Skanska’s DNA as a global developer and contractor, and we are always looking to push the envelope when it comes to sustainable design and function."
The tower has a 24,000-square-foot "SkyPark" at 135 feet above ground, and the first and largest green roof in downtown Houston to be open to all building tenants.
Skanska said its "high-performance façade" "significantly reduces solar heat gain".
Current tenants at the tower include Skanska itself, Bank of America, Winston and Strawn, Waste Management, and Quantum Energy Partners.
Image: The Bank of America Tower built by Skanska in Houston (Skanska)
